Nick Davisdon scored 18 points to help Clemson earn a 97-59 wire-to-wire victory over visiting Gardner-Webb on Friday night.
Carter Welling tallied 14 points with 11 rebounds and RJ Godfrey added 13 points with six rebounds for the Tigers (2-0), who have won their first two games by an average of 44.0 points.
Welling and Godfrey led Clemson to a 47-28 rebounding advantage. The Tigers shot 48.1% from the floor and made 10 of 36 (27.8%) attempts from 3-point range.
Spence Sims delivered 11 points and Jacob Hudson had 11 points and seven rebounds for Gardner-Webb (0-2) of the Big South Conference.
Clemson dominated from the start, holding Gardner-Webb without a field goal more than five minutes into the game.
The Tigers were able to surge to a 16-3 lead, highlighted by a 3-pointer from Middle Tennessee transfer Jestin Porter and a slam dunk by Welling, a Utah Valley transfer.
Sims broke the drought for the Runnin’ Bulldogs with a 3-pointer, but Porter, Welling and Efrem Johnson answered with 3-pointers as the Tigers stretched their advantage to 29-10 midway through the first half.
After leading at halftime 45-30, Clemson opened the second half with a 14-2 burst to take control.
Hunter Dillon, who was one of eight Tigers who made a 3-pointer, opened the half with a shot form distance and Porter followed with another. Godfrey made four free throws in the run which put Clemson up 59-32.
Clemson stretched its lead to 38 points on a dunk by Welling with 3:39 to go.
The Tigers used their depth to dominate. Ten Clemson players logged at least 15 minutes of court time, including Ace Buckner who tallied 11 points.
Clemson committed just three turnovers, while forcing 16 and turning the mistakes into 22 points. The Runnin’ Bulldogs earned five points off Clemson’s turnovers.
Gardner-Webb made 38.3% of its shots, including 6 of 20 (30.0%) from 3-point range.
– Field Level Media
