Chase Hunter had one magic 3-pointer for No. 25 Clemson, but not a second, as Collin Murray-Boyles and South Carolina prevailed 91-88 in an overtime thriller over the visiting Tigers Tuesday night in Columbia, S.C.
Hunter, who went scoreless in the first half, finished with a game-high 27 points, including a running off-balance three with 0.3 seconds left in regulation to force overtime.
Down three again at the end of overtime, Hunter got the ball near half-court, dribbled toward the top of the key and launched another high-arching shot, but it was off target.
Murray-Boyles posted 22 points and nine rebounds to lead South Carolina (8-3), while Myles Stute netted 19 points and Nick Pringle added 18.
South Carolina has now won five straight. Clemson (9-3) took its second loss in a row.
Playing with four fouls for the final 16 minutes of regulation and beyond, Murray-Boyles dominated play in the clutch for the Gamecocks by going right at Clemson star Ian Schieffelin inside.
After the Hunter three to force OT at 80, the Gamecocks got off to a quick start in overtime. Schieffelin, who finished with 23 points, fouled out at the 3:17 mark trying to guard Murray-Boyles, who made both free throws to start a 6-0 run that helped South Carolina pull away.
But just like at the end of regulation, Hunter and Clemson responded. Hunter made a long 3-pointer and then two free throws to make it 89-87 with 50.6 seconds left.
After a South Carolina miss, Clemson reserve Christian Reeves had a chance to tie the game with 3.7 seconds left in the extra session. He missed the first free throw and banked in the second — perhaps deliberately trying to miss.
South Carolina guard Jamarii Thomas (11 points) made two free throws with 3.4 seconds left, setting the stage for Hunter’s final desperation shot.
South Carolina appeared to have the game in hand when it took a 76-69 lead with 1:50 left in regulation after a baseline move and score by Murray-Boyles, but Hunter sank back-to-back threes to make it a one-point game.
The Tigers went up 79-75 on Stute’s corner three with 23 seconds to go before Hunter responded with a layup. Hunter canned his heroic heave after Thomas missed a free throw with seven seconds left in regulation.
–Field Level Media
