Wake Forest University
Clemson
Clemson Rallies as Wake Forest Falls 59-57
1/24/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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By Nick Sebesta, Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@TieDyeNation)
CLEMSON, S.C. - Clemson's Josh Smith converted a game-winning layup with 0.5 seconds left in the game as Wake Forest fell to the Tigers 59-57 on Saturday.
Wake Forest (9-11, 1-6 ACC) led for nearly the entire game but Clemson (11-8, 3-4 ACC) held the Deacons to just one point in the final four minutes and fought back from a deficit to tie the game. With 33 seconds left, Devin Thomas missed a free throw and collected the rebound but Wake Forest turned the ball over, giving Clemson possession with 23 seconds left in the game. Smith gathered a rebound in the final second and laid the ball in for the game-winner.
Thomas had 17 points to lead Wake Forest and recorded 12 rebounds. Codi Miller-McIntyre had 14 points, six rebounds and four assists. Konstantinos Mitoglou had nine points. Donte Grantham led Clemson with 13 points.
Wake Forest controlled the pace to begin the game as Wake Forest led 13-2 through the first 7:40 of the half. Miller-McIntyre had five points in the run to stretch the lead. After Miler-McIntyre converted a layup and a free throw to make it a 21-11 lead at the 8:42 mark, Clemson countered with a 7-0 run to narrow the lead.
Jordan Roper of Clemson hit a three-pointer with 4:13 remaining to cut Wake Forest's lead to 24-22, but the Deacons answered with seven-straight points. Thomas had four points while Mitoglou nailed a three. Aaron Rountree made a layup to put the Demon Deacons up 33-24 with 1:19 remaining though Clemson would add three before half to make it a 33-27 game at halftime.
Miller-McIntyre and Thomas each had eight points in the half while Thomas had eight rebounds.
Wake Forest extended its lead to 40-28 after a jumper from Thomas with 16:35 remaining in the second half. Clemson went on a 7-0 run over the next minute as the Tigers made it a five-point game. Wake Forest kept Clemson at bay over the next several minutes, making it a 48-41 game at the 9:33 mark after a layup from Miller-McIntyre.
Clemson fought back to tie the game at 49-49 at the 7:04 mark following a dunk from Jaron Blossomgame. Miller-McIntyre answered immediately with a layup on the next play and went up four on a layup from Thomas on the following possession.
Wake Forest led 56-51 with 5:04 left after a made free throw from Thomas but Clemson kept the Deacons from scoring until the final minute of the game. Clemson took a 57-56 advantage with 58 seconds left followed by a made free throw from Thomas to tie it up at 57-57.
Clemson forced a Wake Forest turnover 26 seconds left in the game and held the ball for the last shot. Smith gathered in the rebound and made the layup with 0.5 seconds left as the Tigers won 59-57.
Notes
- Aaron Rountree III made his first appearance for Wake Forest since suffering a hand injury against Bucknell on Dec. 22.
- Wake Forest fell to Clemson for the fifth-straight time at Littlejohn Coliseum. The Deacons have not won at Clemson since Jan. 17, 2009.
- Clemson led for just 25 seconds in the game.
- Wake Forest held a slim 45-43 advantage in rebounds but out-rebounded the Tigers in offensive rebounds (14-12).
- Thomas tallied his ninth double-double of the season and 18th for his career.
Next Up
Wake Forest heads back on the road as the Demon Deacons will play at Florida State on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The game can be seen on RSN affiliates and will be broadcast live on the Wake Forest IMG Sports Network.
