Liutauras Lelevicius and Chase Thompson each scored 21 points to keep host Clemson unbeaten following a 92-77 comeback win over North Dakota on Monday night in Clemson, S.C.
Lelevicius eclipsed the 20-point mark for the third time in his career and sparked a second-half rally for the Tigers (3-0), who withstood a serious upset bid by the Fighting Hawks (1-2). He finished with eight rebounds and went 9-for-9 from the free-throw line. Thompson’s scoring output was a career high, and he shot 9 of 10 from the field and went 3 for 3 from 3-point range.
Samuel Hincapie had 22 points and Luke Winkel had 16 points for North Dakota, which led 23-17 with 10 minutes left in the first half and took a 40-38 edge to halftime. The Fighting Hawks turned 12 Clemson turnovers into 18 points.
Clemson used an 8-0 run to take a 51-46 lead with 14:35 to go. Hincapie’s three-pointer with 11:02 left tied it at 55.
Clemson guard Ace Buckner was held to one point and without a field goal until he hit his first with 10:43 to go, putting Clemson ahead again. Hincapie nailed another triple to put the Fighting Hawks ahead 58-57.
Clemson retook the lead, but North Dakota had a chance to tie it at 65. Jayden Moore missed a pair of free throws, though. Lelevicius then scored five in a row to push Clemson’s lead to 70-63. Thompson’s ensuing layup gave the Tigers their largest lead with 5:20 left.
Clemson shot a very efficient 66 percent (31 of 47) from the field and went 9 of 18 from 3 and 21 of 26 from the free throw line.
Buckner finished with 13 points and six assists and Dylan Faulkner totaled 12 points, six rebounds and eight assists.
Hincapie shot 4 of 7 from 3-point range as the Fighting Hawks shot well from long distance in the first half (8 of 17) and shot 13 of 27 from 3 overall.
Zach Kraft also had 12 points and three steals and Carter Evanson had nine points.
David Fuchs and Dallas Thomas each had nine points for Clemson.
–Field Level Media
