N.C. State coach Sidney Lowe
CLEMSON, S.C. — Clemson used a barrage of 3-pointers in the first half and a swarming, trapping defense in the second half to roll past N.C. State 70-54 Tuesday night at Littlejohn Coliseum.
The Tigers (14-3, 2-1 ACC) drained seven 3-points shots in the opening half in building a 32-24 lead. For the game, Clemson converted 23 State turnovers into 29 points — 18 points in the second half.
"Clemson played a great ball game. I don't think we had enough guys play well for us," State coach Sidney Lowe said. "I'm more concerned about our mental toughness than the X's and O's."
The Pack (11-5, 0-2) suffered another injury late in the game when junior Ben McCauley hurt his right ankle. McCauley was on crutches after the game, with his foot heavily taped, and Lowe did not know the severity of the injury.
Courtney Fells had 19 points and Tracy Smith 13 for the Pack, which was routed 93-62 in its ACC opener against North Carolina. State played much of the first half without its leading scorer, J.J. Hickson. The freshman center picked up two early fouls and headed to the bench, sitting out the last 15:21 of the half.
Hickson closed with four points, 12 below his average, and had a couple of shots blocked.
"They were very physical in the post. They did what they were supposed to do," Lowe said of the Tigers. "Those guys were physical and they play above the rim, too."
Sophomore forward Brandon Costner was held scoreless for the first time in 51 games, going 0-for-6 from the field. Costner scored four points in the loss at Carolina.
Clemson drained five straight 3's in turning a 14-11 lead into a 29-17 margin in the first half. Freshman Terrence Oglesby, who can do little but shoot, started the run with a pair of bombs. Cliff Hammonds had a pair of 3's and K.C. Rivers the fifth.
After Hammonds missed a 3-pointer, Rivers added the Tigers' seventh 3 of the half. Clemson shot 40 percent overall but was 7-of-14 from the arc.
Sophomore Marques Johnson made his first start for the Pack, replacing freshman Javi Gonzalez in the Pack's lineup. Johnson had four assists and four turnovers, and Gonzalez two turnovers. Grant and Costner each had four turnovers and Fells three.
"We've had two tough games," Lowe said. "Playing on the road is tough anyway but at Carolina and at Clemson is tough.
"We still have 14 games left to go. We need to go home and see if we can put something together. Be solid. Be tough mentally."
The Pack faces Miami at 8 p.m. Saturday at the RBC Center.
