Top Ranked Duke Opens Atlantic Coast Conference Slate With Clemson

On Saturday Duke who is ranked number one in the AP Top 25 poll will open their Atlantic Coast Conference slate when they host Clemson.

Duke comes into the game with a record of 11-1 while Clemson comes into the game with a record of 10-3.

As for Duke’s previous game, they came back to defeat Texas Tech in the Ameritas Insurance Classic at Madison Square Garden on December 20th.

Zion Williamson had 17 points, 13 rebounds and Duke fans roaring each time he touched the ball before he fouled out, and the second-ranked Blue Devils ended No. 12 Texas Tech's unbeaten start with a 69-58 victory Thursday night at Madison Square Garden. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211784484

RJ Barrett scored 16 points for the Blue Devils (11-1) and the program earned its 35th win at MSG. With the Garden rocking from the tip, the Blue Devils must have felt like they had a home game. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211784484

Cam Reddish hit a late 3-pointer for a 63-57 lead that sealed the win in the first meeting between the programs. Both reached the Elite Eight last season and the atmosphere had a late-March feel. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211784484

Jarrett Culver scored 25 points for the Red Raiders (10-1) in their first loss since the NCAA Tournament. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211784484

Culver hit a 3 in a back-and-forth game for a 45-40 lead and Williamson came back down and missed Duke's 13th straight 3-pointer. Jack White finally connected on Duke's 15th attempt that tied the game at 45-all and brought "Let's go Duke!" chants to a crescendo. The cheers were quickly muted by Williamson's fourth foul (at 10:32) that forced coach Mike Krzyzewski to sit the likely one-and-done freshman. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211784484

Culver pounced and a dunk made it 53-49 and gave him 22 points, bettering his 19.1 season average. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211784484

Williamson checked in with 6:31 left and the game tied at 53 and White hit a go-ahead 3 a possession later. Williamson, 6-foot-7 and 285 pounds, was the must-see player in New York. He couldn't stay out of foul trouble and picked up his fifth on a drive to the basket with 3:51 left and Duke up 60-55. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211784484

But the Blue Devils hung on without their star. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211784484

The Garden was lit once doors opened and ushers had to shoo away fans who lined the court during warmups to snap a picture of Williamson. Williamson missed a dunk in the layup line that earned him some heckles from the Red Raiders fans behind the basket.”according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211784484

Texas Tech fans were drowned out by a roaring crowd at packed MSG for Williamson's lineup introduction. He scored the first basket of the game and capped an 8-0 run with a rim-rattling dunk off an alley-oop that made the Garden sound more like Cameron. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211784484

This was no ordinary neutral-site game with a couple thousand fans from each side mixed in with casual hoops lovers. Led by Culver, Texas Tech quickly steadied itself and "Raider! Power!" chants soon enveloped the arena. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211784484

Culver buried a 3 for a 24-17 lead and Texas Tech fans were delirious; one big, sweaty Texas Tech fan bear-hugged another during a timeout and exclaimed "Damn, this is fun!" “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211784484

The half was pretty unpleasant for the Blue Devils. They missed all 10 3-point attempts and Williamson, who had 11 points and six boards in the half, was whistled for his third foul with 3:21 left. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211784484

Like Duke, Clemson also closed out their non-conference slate with a win as they defeated Lipscomb.

Marcquise Reed posted 26 points, six rebounds, five assists and five steals in an ultra-impressive performance to help send Clemson University men’s basketball to a dominating 84-67 victory over Lipscomb on Sunday afternoon. “according to https://clemsontigers.com/reed-leads-with-26-as-clemson-blitzes-lipscomb-84-67/

Reed was one of five double-digit scorers for the Tigers (10-3) on the afternoon, aided by David Skara’s career-high-tying 17 points. Elijah Thomas posted 12, while Clyde Trapp and Shelton Mitchell scored 11 and 10 points, respectively. “according to https://clemsontigers.com/reed-leads-with-26-as-clemson-blitzes-lipscomb-84-67/

Clemson posted a season-best 15 steals – just one shy of tying for the most under head coach Brad Brownell (16 vs. The Citadel, Jan. 1, 2013). Reed led the way with a season-high and a career-high tying five takeaways. “according to https://clemsontigers.com/reed-leads-with-26-as-clemson-blitzes-lipscomb-84-67/

The Tigers raced out to a 15-point lead midway through the opening period and took a 19-point advantage into the locker room. Clemson posted 46 points in the opening stanza – the most Lipscomb has allowed to any opponent all season. “according to https://clemsontigers.com/reed-leads-with-26-as-clemson-blitzes-lipscomb-84-67/

The Bisons (9-4) made a run early in the second half to cut the Tiger lead to just nine points at 52-43 with 12:58 remaining, but Clemson responded with a 10-1 run to push the advantage comfortably in its favor. “according to https://clemsontigers.com/reed-leads-with-26-as-clemson-blitzes-lipscomb-84-67/

Clemson put the nail in the coffin with a fastbreak scoop and score for Reed who finished the play with a two-handed flush to seal the 17-point victory. “according to https://clemsontigers.com/reed-leads-with-26-as-clemson-blitzes-lipscomb-84-67/

The Tigers finish non-conference play at 10-3 and will begin ACC play on Jan. 5 when it travels to No. 1 ranked Duke. Tip time is still TBA. “according to https://clemsontigers.com/reed-leads-with-26-as-clemson-blitzes-lipscomb-84-67/

Notes: Clemson won its fourth-straight game to finish the non-conference season at 10-3 … this marks the fourth time under head coach Brad Brownell that the Tigers have finished the non-conference slate with at least 10 victories … the Tigers scored at least 80 points for the third time this season … with 45 first-half points, the most the second-most Lipscomb has allowed in any half all year and the most allowed in a first half … with the victory Brad Brownell won his 159th career game at Clemson and now has 326 career victories … Brownell is 18 victories shy of tying Cliff Ellis for the most all-time in Clemson history and 19 away from passing him … Marcquise Reed posted his second 20-point outing in back-to-back games … he posted 20 points for the 31st time in his career and for the seventh time in 10 games this season … he has posted at least 25 points in a game for the sixth time in his career and third time this season … Reed now has 1,083 points in his Clemson career and now sits 34th on the all-time list – next up is his former teammate Donte Grantham at No. 33 who finished his career with exactly 1,100 points … with Reed’s career-high-tying five steals, he moves just 16 shy of cracking the top 10 steals list in Clemson history (Reed has 125) … Bobby Conrad (1976-80) sits at No. 10 and has 141 … Elijah Thomas swatted a season-best four shots and has now moved into the Clemson top 10 for blocked shots in a career (129) … Thomas had 125 entering today and passed John Campbell (1977-80) who had 126 … David Skara posted a career-high-tying 17 points … Skara also tied his career high with three steals … Shelton Mitchell is now just 102 points away from netting 1,000 in his Clemson career (898). “according to https://clemsontigers.com/reed-leads-with-26-as-clemson-blitzes-lipscomb-84-67/

Tip-off is set for 8:00pm from Cameron Indoor Stadium. The game will be televised on ESPN.