While the SEC/ACC Challenge tilted toward the SEC, Clemson delivered the ACC’s lone victory, a 70-66 upset of No. 4 Kentucky on Tuesday in the Wildcats’ first road test under new coach Mark Pope.
Clemson (8-1) rode a massive rebounding effort from Ian Schieffelin to the victory. Schieffelin scored 11 points on just 4-for-20 shooting, but he grabbed a career-high 20 rebounds, including eight on the offensive end.
Jaeden Zackery added 13 points for the Tigers, including a pair of 3-pointers. Chauncey Wiggins scored 12, Jaeden Zackery chipped in 11 and Chase Hunter scored 10.
Kentucky (7-1) was led by Otega Oweh, who finished with 17 points. Lamont Butler added 16 points and five assists but was hamstrung by foul trouble. Jaxson Robinson chipped in 12 points. The Wildcats, in the top 40 among 3-point shooting accuracy, connected on just 7 of 27 attempts from beyond the arc.
Kentucky rallied from a seven-point halftime deficit to claim a 52-51 lead on Butler’s 3-pointer with 10:57 to play. But a 10-2 Clemson run over the next four minutes proved decisive. The run included three layups as the Tigers routinely pulled the ball outside to big men who hit cutting guards for open scores.
Kentucky pulled to within 68-66 on Butler’s 3-point shot with 2.2 seconds left, but Hunter drained a pair of free throws as Clemson held on for the victory, prompting a court-storming from Tigers fans and students.
In a back-and-forth opening half, Kentucky jumped to a 28-23 edge with 5:45 remaining. Clemson responded with a 10-0 rally, including a pair of Jaden Zachery 3-pointers. Clemson ended the half on a 14-2 run to claim its 37-30 halftime edge.
Kentucky will next face No. 7 Gonzaga on the road on Saturday, while Clemson travels to Miami on Saturday.
–Field Level Media
