Ian Schieffelin led the way with 21 points as host Clemson posted an 80-68 victory over Cal to stay unbeaten in the Atlantic Coast Conference on Saturday night.
Schieffelin shot well from the field (8-of-10), as did teammates Chase Hunter (8-of-12 for 19 points) and Chauncey Wiggins (7-of-10 for 15 points). As a team, the Tigers (12-3, 4-0 ACC) shot splendidly from the floor (62 percent), the 3-point arc (8-of-18) and the foul line (10-of-12).
Andrej Stojakovic scored 30 points on 11-of-15 shooting to pace the Bears (7-7, 0-3), who have lost six of their last seven games. Jovan Blacksher Jr. chipped in 15 points for Cal, while Jeremiah Wilkinson pitched in with 11.
The Tigers led by one early in the second half before a 3-pointer by Wiggins and a layup by Jaeden Zackery created a bit of separation. The Bears got their deficit down to four on three separate occasions, but each time Clemson answered with points to create a more comfortable cushion.
Clemson led 52-47 with about 12 1/2 minutes left when Hunter’s dunk ignited an 8-1 run. Hunter punctuated the surge with another dunk with about 10 minutes to play, giving the hosts a 60-48 lead.
Cal briefly got the deficit back to single digits with 7:12 to go before Wiggins’ jumper sent the lead north of 10 once again.
Blacksher’s 3-pointer with just over five minutes left gave the Bears some brief hope, as they clawed within 70-60, but Schieffelin scored the next five points and the Tigers cruised to their third consecutive victory.
Clemson led 39-30 with under a minute remaining in the first half before Wilkinson and Stojakovic each drained a 3-pointer to get the visitors within three at the break.
Stojakovic scored 17 of his team’s 36 points in the half, as he shot 7-of-9 from the field while his teammates were 8-of-22.
Hunter paced Clemson with nine points in the half.
–Field Level Media
