Tigers Snap Orange Winning Streak

Tuesday, January 28

Clemson, SC

7 PM

Syracuse University

13-8,6-4ACC

Clemson

11-9,5-5ACC

Syracuse

Clemson

1/28/2020 9:23:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Jim Boeheim Press Conference Highlights

CLEMSON, S.C. – A layup made by junior guard Clyde Trapp with 2.4 seconds remaining in regulation propelled Clemson (11-9, 5-5 ACC) over Syracuse (13-8, 6-4 ACC), 71-70, Tuesday night at Littlejohn Coliseum. The loss was the first for the Orange since a 67-63 defeat on January 7 at home against Virginia Tech, and snapped a five game winning streak.

Tiger graduate senior Tevin Mack led all players with 32 points and 10 rebounds, including 23 points in the second half. Syracuse was led by Elijah Hughes and Buddy Boeheim, who each finished the night with 22 points. Clemson is now 6-4 all-time against the Orange.

TIGER GAME-WINNER
After leading by as many as 10 points in the second half, the Orange found themselves trailing, 59-56, with 7:04 to play in the game. Two 3-balls down the stretch from Joseph Girard III and four points in less than a minute from Elijah Hughes put Syracuse ahead, 70-67, with 1:34 on the clock.

Clemson responded with four consecutive points, including a layup through contact from junior guard Clyde Trapp with two seconds left to give the Tigers the edge, 71-70. The Orange had .9 seconds and the ball, but Trapp's score was enough to snap the streak at five and secure the win for Clemson.

HUGHES HUGE IN THE FIRST
The Tigers lit up the scoreboard to begin the contest, as Mack, John Newman III and Trapp all hit 3-pointers to put their squad on top, 11-4. Syracuse was unsuccessful in its first four attempts from beyond the arc before Hughes converted from long range after 8:45 of action.

A 10-2 Orange run, including six points from Hughes, brought 'Cuse back within one, only trailing 17-16. Boeheim's third 2-point field goal of the evening evened the score at 20 with 6:48 remaining in the first half and forced Clemson to use a timeout. Hughes hit the double-digit scoring mark for the 21^st straight outing by making three free throws and giving Syracuse its first lead of the tilt, 23-20.

Boeheim and Tiger freshman Al-Amir Dawes each scored six consecutive points for their respective sides on two 3-balls in the final two minutes of the first half, and the Orange went to the break with a 35-33 advantage. Hughes led all scorers with 15 points at the break and set a new season-high with three steals, while Boeheim added 12. Syracuse's defense turned Clemson over eight times in the first 20 minutes and took control near the basket, outscoring the opponent, 18-6, in the paint.

A LITTLE BREATHING ROOM
Hughes and Boeheim continued to carry the Orange to start the second half, as the two combined for all eight 'Cuse points in the first 3:19 to build a 43-35 cushion. Girard notched his first bucket of the night to give the Orange their first double-digit lead, 45-35.

TIGERS POUNCE
Clemson answered by hitting six of seven field goals as part of a 13-5 scoring push, including seven straight points from Mack, shortening the Syracuse lead to 50-48 with 11:46 to play in regulation. The Orange went without a point for 3:24 of play, before Marek Dolezaj hit a jumper to stay ahead by three. A layup from Mack gave the edge back to the Tigers, 53-52, with 9:19 on the clock for the first time since the 6:49 mark of the first half. The graduate senior converted three more jumpers in the paint to put his team up, 59-56, forcing coach Jim Boeheim to burn a timeout. Mack was responsible for 18 of the Tigers' 26 second half points and had a total of 27 in the game with 7:03 to play.

Dolezaj and Bourama Sidibe both fouled out with less than eight minutes to go in the contest, prompting coach Boeheim to turn to freshman Jesse Edwards for valuable minutes down the stretch.

NOTABLE NUMBERS

The Orange turned over the Tigers 16 times in the outing with 10 steals. Syracuse only gave up the ball eight times.
Hughes tied his career-high with five steals.
Clemson recorded 17 assists, while Syracuse finished with four.
The Orange finished the contest 14-15 from the charity stripe.
Tevin Mack is the first player to score over 30 points against 'Cuse in the 2019-20 campaign.
Quincy Guerrier paced the Orange with five rebounds.

UP NEXT
The Orange host ACC foe #9/8 Duke on Saturday, February 1 at the Carrier Dome. The highly anticipated matchup is set to begin at 8 p.m. and will be nationally televised on ESPN.

Tickets for Duke and all regular-season home games are on sale now online (Cuse.com/tickets), by phone (888-DOME-TIX) and at the Dome Box Office located in the Ensley Athletic Center.

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