Clemson's second half rally comes up short in 90-84 loss to No. 12 Alabama
Two years ago, RJ Godfrey buried two of the most clutch free throws Clemson has ever seen.
Wednesday night, with Clemson trailing 87-84 inside the final two minutes of a 90-84 loss at No. 12 Alabama, he stepped to the line with a chance to give the Tigers the lead again.
He missed both.
BECOME A TIGERILLUSTRATED.com SUBSCRIBER!
Alabama (6-2) grabbed the momentum instantly, closing on an 8-0 run while Clemson (7-2) went the final 2:41 without a field goal. It was a brutal end to what could’ve been one of the best comebacks of the Brad Brownell era.
It was a gut punch for a team that spent the entire night digging out of a 19-point first-half crater, then somehow found itself leading midway through the second half and again with a real chance to steal a ranked road win in one of the toughest environments it will see all year.
And the crazy thing? Given how poorly Clemson played early, it’s surprising the game was even close.
Alabama blitzed Clemson from the jump, opening 31-12 behind hot shooting and guard play Clemson simply couldn’t stay in front of. The Tide hit 8-of-18 3s in the first half and shot 50 percent overall, while Clemson managed just 29.7 percent and 2-of-14 from deep.
The 45-30 halftime deficit was Clemson’s largest of the season and could have been worse if Alabama hadn’t cooled off late in the half.
But the Tigers regrouped, leaning on the only two players who have actually lived a game like this before.
Godfrey and Dillon Hunter — the two Tigers who had played in an environment remotely close to Wednesday night at Coleman Coliseum — kept Clemson afloat when things were ugly.
They combined for more than half of the Tigers’ first-half points and ended the night with the two best lines on the roster.
Godfrey finished with 19 points on 6-of-10 shooting, four boards, three assists and a pair of stocks. Hunter added 13 on 5-of-7, with five rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Their stability bought Clemson time. Then the rest of the roster finally found its footing.
Clemson opened the second half on a 24-9 run, turning a 50-38 deficit into a one-point lead with 9:53 remaining — its first lead since the first possession of the game.
Alabama’s offense stalled during that stretch while guard Labaron Philon sat with three fouls. The moment he returned, everything changed.
Philon was the deciding factor.
He scored 29, hit tough shots in traffic and swung possessions with his burst.
Whenever he was on the floor, Clemson struggled to keep him out of the lane. When he sat, Clemson made its push.
That contrast ended up being the story of the night.
Alabama’s guards weren’t a one-man show either. Amari Allen dropped 20 and the Tide’s early pressure set a tone Clemson spent the rest of the night trying to undo.
Still, the Tigers nearly did it. And several newcomers helped make it a game again.
Nick Davidson finally looked like the player Clemson hoped he could be, scoring all 11 of his points in the second half on 4-of-6 shooting.
Freshman Zac Foster added 12 – two of those buckets coming on big dunks that energized the bench – and showed no fear despite a rough first half.
There’s no such thing as a “good loss” in a moment like this, but this was a clear measuring stick.
Clemson wasn’t ready for Alabama’s speed and athleticism early, especially at the guard spots.
But Brownell’s team adjusted, clawed back, and played better than the Tide for long stretches of the second half.
DISCUSSION: Join Tigerillustrated.com subscribers on The West Zone Forum
The Tigers finished 29-of-71 (40.8%) from the field, 4-of-19 (21.1%) from three and 22-of-28 at the line.
Alabama cooled after its blistering start and ended 28-of-60 (46.7%) overall and 12-of-34 (35.3% from deep while going 22-of-31 from the line.
DISCUSSION: Join Tigerillustrated.com subscribers on our off-topics forum
Clemson will get another shot at a signature résumé win Tuesday in New York City, when it faces No. 9 BYU in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden.
Not a Tiger Illustrated member, Clemson fans? Join Today!
Tigerillustrated.com, established in 1999, is the No. 1 Authority On Clemson Football & Recruiting. A subscription, just $1 for our 7-day trial, is a must-have for hardcore Clemson Football fans. You won’t find more exclusive, detailed, info on Clemson football and recruiting anywhere else. We guarantee it! CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT OUR $1 SUBSCRIPTION PROMO!
