RJ Godfrey scored a game-high 16 points off the bench Monday to help Clemson post an 81-61 victory over visiting North Alabama.
Fellow reserve Zac Foster added 14 points while Carter Welling chipped in 13 points and nine rebounds for the Tigers (4-1), who outrebounded North Alabama 46-29. Jake Wahlin finished with eight points and 11 rebounds in the win.
The Lions (2-3) were led by Kevin de Kovachich’s 12 points and Donte Bacchus’ 10. Dallas Howell had eight points and five boards for the Lions, who saw their leading scorer and rebounder Corneilous Williams (16.3 points and 13.3 rebounds per game) exit in the first half with an apparent ankle injury. Williams had four points and four rebounds in 15 minutes.
After holding a 23-point halftime lead, Clemson saw its edge reduced to 15 on Canin Jefferson’s stepback triple with 16:51 left in the second half.
Five straight free throws pushed the Tigers’ advantage back to 20, before Dillon Hunter’s 3-pointer gave Clemson a 64-42 edge. DarKaun King’s triple and Kedar Bodie’s layup trimmed North Alabama’s deficit to 17, forcing Clemson’s timeout with 8:06 remaining.
From there, the Lions pulled within 14 before Carter Welling’s driving dunk pushed the Tigers lead to 66-50.
Hunter and Wahlin each drilled 3-pointers on consecutive possessions, extending the edge to 19 and sealing the Tigers’ win.
After Jestin Porter’s layup gave Clemson its first double-digit lead with 13:15 left in the first half, Foster and Dallas Thomas’ consecutive triples extended the lead to 30-13 at the 5:45 mark.
Braylon Patton’s basket then trimmed the Lions’ deficit to 15 with 5:13 left in the half before Clemson pushed the margin to 22 on Godfrey’s dunk and Wahlin’s 3-pointer.
Bacchus’ layup was then followed by Ace Buckner’s triple with 45 seconds remaining, giving the Tigers a 45-22 halftime advantage. Godfrey’s 10 first-half points led Clemson, while de Kovachich’s seven paced North Alabama.
–Field Level Media
