Hurricanes Fall at Clemson, 79-72
Jan. 8, 2011
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) – Jerai Grant had 18 points and Demontez Stitt 17 as Clemson won its seventh straight game and gave coach Brad Brownell his first ACC victory, 79-72 over Miami on Saturday night.
Grant added 11 rebounds for his third double-double this season and Stitt had 11 of his points in the second half, including five in a 12-0 run to start the half, for the Tigers (12-4, 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference).
Miami (11-5, 0-2) got within 74-71 on Durand Scott’s banker with 1:16 left, but Andre Young followed with a high, floating basket as the shot clock ran out to extend the Tigers’ lead.
Scott finished with a game-high 24 points.
The Tigers led by as many as 13 points in the second half before the Hurricanes tightened things up.
Malcolm Grant’s 3-pointer drew Miami to 57-55 with 8 minutes left before Stitt and Milton Jennings hit a pair of long-range shots to increase Clemson’s lead.
Scott powered the Hurricanes’ final charge with a running banker to bring his team within 3.
Miami could get no closer.
Miami had won nine of 10 to close 2010 before losing at No. 1 Duke 74-63 this past Sunday.
The Hurricanes closed the first half with a 10-2 run as their talented New York City backcourt took control.
Malcolm Grant, of Brooklyn, hit two foul shots and a jumper, and Scott, also from the city, hit four free throws in the final 70 seconds to cut the lead to 34-33.
