Clemson Locks Down Pitt, Hits Stride with Statement ACC Win
CLEMSON, S.C. - Clemson men’s basketball continues to look like a team hitting its stride at just the right time. Behind a balanced offensive effort and a suffocating defensive performance, the Tigers took care of business at home Saturday, dispatching Pittsburgh 63-52 at Littlejohn Coliseum.
Carter Welling and Nick Davidson each poured in 12 points to lead the Tigers, who improved to 18-4 overall and 8-1 in ACC play. Davidson’s final bucket - a deep three that gave Clemson a 20-point cushion with under five minutes to play - was the exclamation point on a night where the Tigers controlled both ends of the floor.
From the opening tip, Clemson set the tone with sharp ball movement and timely shooting. The Tigers knocked down five of their eight total threes in the first half, including two off the bench from Butta Johnson, who chipped in eight points and provided a spark with his energy and range.
The turning point came late in the first half, when Clemson ripped off a 20-5 run over the final 10 minutes. That stretch wasn’t just about scoring-it was about control. The Tigers outshot the Panthers by more than 20 percent from the field during that span and leaned on their depth, getting 14 first-half points from the bench and making eight trips to the free-throw line count.
Dillon Hunter did a little bit of everything, finishing with five points, a team-high six rebounds, and three assists. His presence on the glass and poise in transition helped Clemson maintain rhythm when the game could’ve slipped into a grind. RJ Godfrey added 10 points and three rebounds, notching his 17th double-digit scoring game of the season.
Defensively, Clemson was locked in. The Tigers held Pitt to just 37.7 percent shooting from the field and a season-low 19.2 percent from three (5-for-26).
The Panthers managed just 16 points in the first half - another season low - and never found a consistent offensive rhythm. Clemson’s rotations were crisp, closeouts were aggressive, and the communication was clearly on point.
Freshman guard Ace Buckner tied his career-high with four assists and added four points, continuing to show growth as a facilitator. His ability to keep the ball moving and find the open man helped Clemson keep the offense flowing, especially when the starters rested.
The win marked Clemson’s 11th at home this season and carried some historical weight as well - it was Head Coach Brad Brownell’s 200th home victory with the program. He also notched his 310th overall win at Clemson and 477th of his career. Against Pitt head coach Jeff Capel, Brownell now holds a 17-3 career record, including games from his tenure at UNC Wilmington.
This victory also extended Clemson’s dominance over Pitt, pushing the all-time series to 15-3 and marking the Tigers’ 15th consecutive win over the Panthers. The Tigers went 7-1 in January, matching their best win percentage in the month since 1935.
Clemson has now won 92 games overall since the start of the 2022-23 season, with a 51-18 mark in ACC play over that stretch - a testament to the consistency and culture Brownell has built.
Up next, the Tigers hit the road for a late-night showdown at Stanford on Wednesday, Feb. 4.
Tipoff is set for 10 p.m. ET on ACCN.
With the way this group is defending and getting contributions across the board, Clemson is looking more and more like a team that could make serious noise come March.