Ace Buckner anchored the Clemson offense with a 26-point performance, guiding the Tigers to an 82-73 victory over American on Friday night. As one of only seven returners from last season, Buckner demonstrated immediate impact, shooting 9-of-14 from the field and 5-for-8 from beyond the arc while dishing out six assists. His scoring efficiency was pivotal in keeping the Tigers competitive, complemented by Liutaras Lelevicius, who contributed 17 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
Tigers leverage 40-29 rebounding advantage and late three-point surge to secure crucial win
Despite American’s persistent pressure, the Eagles failed to close the gap in the final minutes. Madden Collins led the visitors with 23 points on 10-for-20 shooting, while Wyatt Nausadis added 11 and both Julen Iturbe and Greg Jones scored 10 apiece. Although American led by seven points early in the first half, Clemson seized control with 6:14 remaining in the third quarter when Lelevicius drained a crucial three-pointer. The Tigers maintained that lead for the remainder of the contest, capping off a game where they never led by more than 14 points.
The decisive factor in the contest was Clemson’s dominance on the glass, where the Tigers out-rebounded American 40-29. Dallas Thomas secured six rebounds and Chase Thompson added five, helping the home team limit second-chance points for the Eagles. Dylan Faulkner and Cole Certa also provided essential offensive support with 12 and 10 points, respectively, ensuring Clemson maintained enough firepower to withstand American’s late-game push.
Source: Yahoo Sports
