Clemson’s basketball program delivered a dominant offensive performance on Monday, defeating North Dakota 92-77 in the inaugural meeting between the two programs. The Tigers, now 3-0 on the season, relied on a balanced attack led by Liutauras Lelevicius and Chase Thompson, who each poured in 21 points. Thompson was particularly efficient, finishing 9-of-10 from the field and hitting all three of his three-point attempts, while Lelevicius demonstrated perfect free-throw mechanics by converting 9 of 9. Ace Buckner contributed 13 points, and Dylan Faulkner added 12, as Clemson shot an impressive 66% from the floor (31-of-47), including 9-of-18 from deep.
Tigers’ 66% shooting and late surge secure first-ever win over Fighting Hawks
Despite a spirited effort from the Fighting Hawks, who fell to 1-2, North Dakota could not overcome Clemson’s shooting surge. Samuel Hincapie led the visitors with 22 points on 8-of-13 shooting, including 4-of-7 from three-point range, while Luke Winkel scored 16 and Zach Kraft added 12. Kraft also provided defensive pressure with three steals, contributing to North Dakota’s team total of 10. The Fighting Hawks shot 45% from the field (28-of-62) and a respectable 48% from long range (13-of-27), but their scoring output was insufficient to keep pace with Clemson’s high-volume offense.
The game’s momentum shifted decisively in the final minutes, as Clemson did not record its first double-digit lead until Cole Certa sank a three-pointer with 2:42 remaining to make the score 83-71. That surge allowed the Tigers to pull away down the stretch, securing a comfortable victory. The performance highlights Clemson’s current offensive efficiency and depth, setting a strong tone for the remainder of their season as they look to maintain their perfect record.
Source: Yahoo Sports
