Clemson Struggles to Find Offensive Rhythm in Road Loss to No. 4 Duke
DURHAM, N.C. - In a matchup that pitted two of the ACC’s top teams against each other, Clemson couldn’t find enough offensive firepower to hang with No. 4 Duke, falling 67-54 at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Tigers, now 20-6 overall and 10-3 in conference play, never quite found their footing. They led only once in the game and spent over 36 minutes trailing-a season-high mark that speaks volumes about the kind of pressure Duke applied from the jump.
Clemson’s offensive struggles were evident early and often. The Tigers shot just 35.1% from the field and hit only 25% from beyond the arc-both season lows.
When shots aren’t falling, especially in a hostile environment like Cameron, it becomes an uphill battle. And Duke made sure to keep the slope steep.
Still, there were bright spots. RJ Godfrey led the Tigers with 10 points and eight rebounds, and in the process, he crossed the 300-point mark for the season-a personal milestone that reflects his steady growth and value to this Clemson squad.
Carter Welling chipped in 12 points, marking his 17th double-digit scoring performance of the season. He continues to be a consistent offensive option, even when the team as a whole is struggling to get into rhythm.
Ace Buckner added seven points and tied for the team lead with two assists, while Nick Davidson provided a spark off the bench with seven points of his own. But overall, the Tigers just couldn’t generate enough sustained offense to keep pace with a Duke team that’s been rolling through the ACC.
Clemson did show some fight late. After falling behind by as many as 22 in the final five minutes, the Tigers closed the game on a 12-3 run. That stretch won’t change the outcome, but it does speak to the team’s resilience-something they’ll need to lean on as they head down the final stretch of the regular season.
Next up, Clemson hits the road again, heading to Wake Forest for a Wednesday night showdown. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. on ACC Network, and it’s a chance for the Tigers to bounce back and keep pace in a tightly contested ACC race.