The Clemson Tigers (21-8) (11-5) used a second half surge to upset the 24th ranked Louisville Cardinals (20-9) (9-7) by a score of 80-75 to snap a 4-game losing streak and further secure a potential top 4 ACC finish and cement their chances at appearing in the NCAA tournament
The storyline entering tipoff centered on the availability of Louisville freshman leading scorer Mikel Brown, who was not in the starting lineup after reaggravating a back injury Monday night in Chapel Hill. The injury had already cost Brown eight games earlier in the season, and while he was available off the bench, his expected workload remained uncertain.
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Clemson looked to seize that opportunity early, jumping out to a quick 7–2 lead as questions surrounding Brown lingered. Those questions were answered just two minutes into the game when Brown checked in, and Louisville immediately responded. The Cardinals rattled off a 9–0 run, fueled by the Tiger’s focus on Brown that opened the door for Ryan Conwell to knock down two open three-pointers and swing momentum in Louisville’s favor.
Clemson’s offensive approach was clear from the outset. The Tigers consistently worked the ball inside to RJ Godfrey and Carter Welling while emphasizing ball movement, a strategy reflected by their first seven made field goals coming from seven different players. That balance helped Clemson weather Louisville’s surge and settle into the game.
A 6–0 Clemson run, capped by an Ace Buckner layup off a Nick Davidson feed, shifted the pace as the first half transitioned from early runs to a stretch of sloppy, back-and-forth basketball. After starting 4-of-6 from beyond the arc, Louisville went cold from three-point range, finishing the half just 5-of-16 while committing five turnovers as neither team could fully take control.
Godfrey provided a steady presence for the Tigers, repeatedly attacking the basket and getting to the free-throw line. He attempted six free throws in the opening half, converting five of them to help Clemson maintain a narrow advantage. Despite limited production from Brown, who scored just three points in the half, the Tigers carried a 38–35 lead into the locker room.
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Clemson’s guards continued to search for rhythm offensively, combining to shoot 3-of-10 from the field, including an 0-of-6 mark from Butta Johnson and Jestin Porter. Still, Clemson’s balance, interior play, and ability to capitalize at the free-throw line proved enough to secure a slim halftime edge in a tightly contested matchup.
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Louisville came out of the locker room intent on jump‑starting its perimeter shooting, but the Cardinals’ struggles from beyond the arc continued. Louisville’s first three shot attempts of the second half all came from three‑point range, and all three missed. Clemson, meanwhile, found immediate answers. After going scoreless from the field in the first half, Butta Johnson and Jestin Porter each connected on corner three‑pointers to push the Tigers’ lead to nine points, matching their largest advantage of the game.
The health of Louisville freshman Mikel Brown remained a developing storyline throughout the second half. Brown quickly returned to the bench and spent extended stretches working on the exercise bike as he attempted to loosen his injured back. Despite his limited availability, Clemson initially struggled to capitalize, as both teams endured a prolonged scoring drought. Louisville went more than four minutes without a basket, while Clemson answered with nearly three minutes of scoreless basketball of its own.
With the game up in the air, momentum swung decisively midway through the half. With 11 minutes remaining, Porter attacked the rim for a strong layup, and on the ensuing possession Louisville turned the ball over on the inbounds pass. Nick Davidson immediately found Porter spotting up in the corner, where he knocked down another three‑pointer to give Clemson its first double‑digit lead of the afternoon at 60–49. From there, the Tigers took control, extending the lead to as many as 15 points and remaining comfortably in front for much of the closing stretch.
Louisville mounted a late push, knocking down a flurry of three‑pointers in the final 90 seconds to trim the deficit back to single digits. The rally, however, came too late, as Clemson held on for an 80–75 victory at Littlejohn Coliseum, snapping its losing streak.
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Porter was the catalyst for the Tigers, scoring all 16 of his team‑high points in the second half. He finished 6‑of‑10 from the field and connected on four three‑pointers. RJ Godfrey added 13 points and seven rebounds, while Ace Buckner rounded out Clemson’s double‑figure scorers with 11 points. The Tigers shot 49 percent from the field and finished 8‑of‑21 from beyond the arc.
Louisville was led by Adrian Wooley, who scored 17 points on 7‑of‑12 shooting, including three three‑pointers. Ryan Conwell added 15 points, and Sananda Fru chipped in 10 for the Cardinals, who showed resilience down the stretch but were unable to overcome their early second‑half struggles.
Clemson will return to action on Tuesday night as they travel to Chapel Hill to take on the 18th ranked Tar Heels as they search for another resume building win. Be sure to sound of in the comments below and stay tuned to Shakin the Southland for all of your Clemson Basketball coverage.
