No. 10 Clemson kept its Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Tournament title hopes alive Thursday night, battling back to defeat SMU 57-54 in a gritty quarterfinal matchup. Chase Hunter led the way for the Tigers with 21 points, while Jaeden Zackery added 11, securing Clemson’s ninth consecutive win and a spot in the ACC semifinals.
Clemson (27-5) trailed for much of the second half, but Viktor Lakhin’s clutch jumper in the lane with 4:50 remaining gave the Tigers a 52-51 lead—a lead they would not relinquish. Ian Schieffelin played a key role as well, contributing nine points and 12 rebounds.
SMU (23-10) fought hard despite struggling from beyond the arc, shooting just 1-of-14 from three-point range. Matt Cross led the Mustangs with 13 points, while Boopie Miller added 10.
After Hunter missed a three-pointer with 17 seconds left, SMU had a chance to tie or take the lead. The Mustangs called a timeout with 12.5 seconds remaining to set up a final play. However, Chuck Harris’ corner three-pointer missed the mark, leading to a chaotic scramble for the rebound.
Initially, officials ruled the ball went off a Clemson player, giving SMU another opportunity. However, after a video review, the call was overturned, with officials determining SMU last touched the ball. Hunter was fouled on the ensuing inbounds play and made one of two free throws with 2.1 seconds remaining. Cross’ full-court desperation heave at the buzzer fell short, sealing the victory for the Tigers.
Despite Cross picking up his fourth foul midway through the second half, the Mustangs stayed competitive until the final moments. However, their poor three-point shooting (1-of-14) ultimately hurt their chances.
The Tigers may have suffered a significant loss as starting guard Dillon Hunter appeared to jam his finger late in the first half and did not return. Head coach Brad Brownell said after the game that Hunter may have broken his hand. He was seen with an ice bag on his right hand in the locker room and is set to undergo X-rays on Friday.
With under two minutes remaining, Hunter made a crucial play, driving into the lane before stopping and hitting a turnaround jumper to put Clemson ahead by four. That basket helped the Tigers maintain their edge in the final stretch.
Clemson advances to the ACC semifinals, where they will take on No. 13 Louisville, which edged Stanford 75-73 in its quarterfinal matchup. Meanwhile, SMU appears to be headed for the NIT, as their NCAA Tournament hopes take a major hit with this loss.
The Tigers remain in the hunt for their first-ever ACC Tournament championship, and with their current momentum, they look poised to make a deep run.
