Clemson Snaps ‘Cuse Win Streak, 66-53

Saturday, January 17

Clemson, SC

4:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

13-5, 4-1ACC

Clemson

10-7, 2-3ACC

Syracuse

Clemson

1/17/2015 6:03:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Christmas double-double (21 points, 10 rebounds) not enough.

CLEMSON, S.C. – Rakeem Christmas scored 21 points and tallied 10 rebounds but Syracuse's (13-5, 4-1 ACC) seven-game win streak was snapped in a 66-53 loss at Clemson (9-7, 1-3 ACC).

Kaleb Joseph finished with his best scoring performance in conference play with 12 points while Gbinije posted 11 points. Tyler Roberson recorded his fifth game this season with 10 rebounds or more, finishing the contest with 13.

Slow Start For The Orange
Clemson fired out of the gates, shooting 53% and hitting five threes in the process. Syracuse struggled to keep up as Clemson quickly followed up a 16-5 run early in the game with a 16-4 stretch to attain a 39-18 lead at the half. The Tigers' defense created problems for Syracuse, forcing the Orange into a 7-of-28 (.250) first-half shooting performance. The Tigers limited Syracuse to 1-of-11 (.091) on 3-point attempts.

Christmas was the only member of the Orange to record a point for the opening 13:00 of play. The center finished the half with 11 points to lead Syracuse. Christmas was supported by a combined seven points from Joseph and Gbinije. Roberson was a board shy of double-digit rebounds in the first.

Clemson Thwarts The Comeback Attempt
Syracuse held Clemson to just six points in the first 10:00 of the latter stanza in order to cut its deficit to 13 with a 45-32 score. Once the momentum began to shift, Clemson did just enough to keep the Orange at a distance, never allowing Syracuse within closer than 12 points to finish the game with a 66-53 score.

Joseph and Gbinije stepped up for Syracuse in the second by recording eight points each while Cooney and Roberson combined for nine points to go along with Christmas' 10.

Game Notes: Christmas scored in double digits for the 17the time in 18 games. . .He posted his sixth double-double of the campaign. . .The 12 points scored by Joseph representative his top offensive effort since tallying 10 against Villanova. . .It was Syracuse's first game at Clemson since a 2007 NIT quarterfinal. . .The Orange host Boston College on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.