By Ron Pitts Urban Media Today Sports
Coach Brad Brownell and the 2-0 Clemson Tigers look to go 3-0 tonight as they take on Coach Paul Sather and the 1-1 Fighting Hawks of North Dakota. The Fighting Hawks represent the Summit league conference.
The Tigers got off to a slow start in the first half trailing behind the Fighting Hawks as many as 6 points down. Dallas Thomas started to heat up and put up 9 straight points helping to give Clemson a 6 point lead with 2:35 left in the first half. North Dakota came back to take a 40-38 halftime lead over Clemson. The Fighting Hawks were led in the first half by #1 Zach Kraft with 12 points on 4-5 shooting from three point range.
Clemson shot 57% from the field in the first while they held North Dakota to 48% shooting from the field. The difference in the first half was the Fighting Hawks defense forcing 7 turnovers and turned them into 14 points.
The Tigers came out in the second half and were able to come back and take the lead from the Fighting Hawks with help of Liutauras Lelevicius with 16 second half points with help from Chase Thompson putting in 13 points.
Clemson was able to take command of the game and shut the door on the Fighting Hawks with a 92-77 victory. Liutauras Lelevicius led the Tigers scoring 21 points.
Coach Brownell credited North Dakota’s style of play. He said they made several big threes that they were not expecting. The Fighting Hawks coming into the game shooting 12% on the season from behind the arc. They ended up shooting 48% from the three against the Tigers defense. Brownell said they do a nice job of running some motion and moving the ball. They are quick small team that plays with nice pace, and they grind it to the last 10 seconds to shoot a three. He went on to say that North Dakota plays a unique style of play. Offensively, Coach Brownell said that he was pleased with the Tigers’ play. Lelevicius, Thompson, and Ace Buckner had a big game to help the Tigers get the victory.
Brownell said his defense still needs to put a complete game together. He said that his team’s lack of depth is hurting them from making things disruptive, so he and the staff will have to adjust.
Chase Thompson commented that he was excited when he found out he was getting the start tonight. Brownell said he made the change due to the match-up.
Lelevicius was critical of the team’s start, stating they must be better. The Tigers were able to close out the game with a win to start the season 3-0.
Clemson Tigers scoring leaders:
Scoring- Liutauras Lelevicius-21
Rebounds- Liutauras Lelevicius-8
Assist- Dylan Faulkner-8
Clemson welcomes the Georgetown Hoyas to Littlejohn Coliseum Friday November 13th at 6:00pm.
