Clemson basketball secured its second victory of the season with a decisive 82-73 win over American at Littlejohn Coliseum, powered by a historic performance from sophomore guard Ace Buckner. While the Eagles kept the game competitive with aggressive perimeter shooting, forcing Clemson to work for the lead, Buckner emerged as the definitive difference maker. The guard erupted for a career-high 26 points, scoring 19 of them after halftime to dismantle American’s defense and secure the Tigers’ dominance in the final stretch.
Sophomore guard’s second-half surge silences Eagles’ hot shooting in 82-73 win
Buckner’s efficiency was unmatched, finishing 9-for-14 from the field and 5-for-8 from three-point range, setting new career highs in both categories. His offensive surge was most critical when Clemson held a slim 51-46 advantage; the sophomore guard scored the next 10 points for the Tigers, creating the separation needed to neutralize American’s persistent threat from deep. This stretch of play effectively broke the game open, allowing Clemson to manage the clock and the lead with confidence.
Supporting Buckner, Liutauras Lelevicius provided a reliable outside option, hitting five of his seven three-point attempts to record his first double-double of the season. Dylan Faulkner also contributed significantly with 12 points, six rebounds, and two steals. Although American knocked down seven first-half threes to trail just 39-35 at the break, the Eagles could not sustain their momentum. After pulling within six in the second half, American was met with a six-point unanswered run from Clemson, pushing the lead to 69-57 with 7:10 remaining and sealing the victory.
Source: Yahoo Sports
