Clemson Stays Hot: Welling’s Breakout Performance Fuels Tigers Past Miami
CLEMSON, S.C. - Clemson is rolling, and Saturday afternoon at Littlejohn Coliseum was just the latest example of a team that’s starting to look like a serious problem in the ACC. Behind a season-best 18 points from Carter Welling, the Tigers took care of business with a 69-59 win over Miami, extending their unbeaten run in conference play to six games and pushing their overall win streak to nine.
Welling, the transfer from Utah Valley, picked the perfect time to have his best game in a Clemson uniform. He was efficient, aggressive, and locked in from the jump - finishing with 18 points and nine rebounds, just one board shy of a double-double. His energy on both ends of the floor helped set the tone early, and Clemson never really looked back.
It wasn’t just Welling doing damage, though. The Tigers got balanced scoring across the board, with Jestin Porter contributing 11 points and RJ Godfrey adding 10 of his own - marking Godfrey’s 15th double-digit scoring effort of the season. Clemson head coach Brad Brownell has to love the way this team is sharing the load offensively right now.
Dillon Hunter quietly had one of his best all-around games of the season. The sophomore guard tied his career-high with seven assists and chipped in seven points, five rebounds, and a season-best four steals. His impact went far beyond the box score - whether it was pushing the pace, hounding ball handlers, or making the right reads in transition, Hunter was everywhere.
Clemson came out of the gates flying, opening the game on an 8-0 run and building a double-digit lead before halftime. Miami managed to trim the deficit to nine at the break, but the Tigers came out of the locker room with another burst - outscoring the Hurricanes 17-12 in the first 10 minutes of the second half to stretch the lead back out.
Jake Wahlin gave the Tigers a lift off the bench with eight points on a perfect 3-for-3 shooting performance, including a highlight-reel dunk that brought the crowd to its feet midway through the second half. It was the kind of spark Clemson needed to keep Miami at bay when the Hurricanes made their push.
To their credit, Miami didn’t fold. They cut the lead to eight in the final minutes, but Clemson’s defense clamped down when it mattered most.
The Tigers forced 16 turnovers and racked up a season-high 12 steals, holding Miami to just 21-of-54 shooting from the field and 6-of-24 from beyond the arc. The 59 points allowed marked a season-low for the Hurricanes.
Inside, Clemson once again flexed its muscle. The Tigers scored 34 of their 69 points in the paint, using their size and physicality to control the interior. It’s been a theme all season - when this team gets downhill and attacks the rim, they’re tough to stop.
With the win, Clemson improves to 16-3 on the season and 6-0 in the ACC - just the second time in program history they’ve started conference play with six straight wins (the first came in 2022-23). Brownell also notched his 308th win at Clemson and 475th overall in his coaching career.
Next up, the Tigers stay home to host NC State on Tuesday night. If this team keeps playing the way it has over the past few weeks - with defensive intensity, offensive balance, and contributions up and down the roster - they’re going to be a tough out for anyone in the ACC.