By Ron Pitts for Urban Media Today
Coach Brad Brownell’s Tigers got off to a slow start in the first half with several point-blank misses in the paint at the basket. The Tigers trailed the Hawkeyes by as much as 12 points led by a combination of #11 Kael Combs (11points) and #8 Bennett Stirtz (8 points). However, Clemson’s gritty play was able to climb back into the game to within 7 points to go into the locker trailing Iowa 32-25 at the half. #4 Butta Johnson started warming up by hitting 2 three pointers that gave him 8 points in the half. #2 Dillon Hunter and #0 RJ Godfrey both chipped in 5 points apiece. Without #22 Carter Welling the Tigers will need a collective effort to help get back into this game. Coach Brownell has built this team to play as one gritty unit. The biggest difference in this game is Clemson is missing close shots and Iowa is winning the rebound game 21-13.
The Tigers came out in the second half, and you can see that the point of emphasis coming out was placed on defense. They held the Hawkeyes scoreless for over 5 minutes. Clemson defense helped ignite the offense to get the game to 35-33.
Iowa continued to dominate the boards and pushed the lead back to 14. Clemson hit several big threes from #1 Jestin Porter, #2 Dillon Hunter, and #8 Dallas Hunter. The big shots by the trio helped get the game back to a two-possession game. However, it still wasn’t enough to overcome Coach Ben McCollum Hawkeyes. The difference in the game was foul shooting and rebounds. Iowa was 24-31 compared to Clemson’s 8-12. The Tigers were out rebounded 40-27 which made a huge impact on the game.
Coach Brownell spoke about not being able to get the game to a one possession game.
“We just didn’t quite have it tonight. We just couldn’t quite make the timely play,” said Brownell. “That’s what’s going to be haunting with this loss is you had a chance. I told the guys at halftime; we’re in a good position to win the game”
RJ Godfrey addressed the size or the length differential that Iowa had and said, “Early on, I just think we missed a couple easy shots, especially me, around the rim. I know some of our guys missed some easy ones, but that was in the game plan. They’re going to be disruptive, and they’re very lengthy. But I think it was just us missing shots around the rim.”
Dillon Hunter said, “Not having Carter definitely affected us a little bit, but still, there was a lot of easy shots that we should have made as a team, so we felt like it was kind of our fault. We’ve played high-level competition with like-sized guys, and we just didn’t make the shots we needed to”.
As Clemson closes out this season with a loss in the first round of the NCAA tournament, this group has a lot to hang their hats on. I know in sports the goal is not to play for moral victories, but this team was projected to finish 7th or 10th in the ACC due to last year’s big roster turnover. However, Coach Brownell and his staff coached this team to a 24-11 record, 4th in the ACC, made it to the ACC Semifinals, and 8th seed of the NCAA tournament. I believe it’s fair to say after going through the season experiencing highs and lows, this team has a lot to be proud of.
Brownell said he is, “Super proud of these guys right here. What they did for our team and the leadership that they showed throughout the year, can’t say enough good things about these two guys. They’re part of a bunch of different three NCAA Tournaments. Just really proud of these guys for what they’ve done”.
Dillon said, “At the beginning of the season, we weren’t expected to be here, so that put a lot of fire under us, me and RJ, so coming into the season, and then had a lot of adversity during the season and just handling that. We’re just grateful. Me and RJ, grateful for our guys, teammates, Coach, and just how much fight we put up this season.”
Congratulations, Clemson, on a wonderful 2025/2026 season!
