Hunter Tyson scored a career-high 24 points and nine rebounds, and PJ Halls scored 22 points as they lift Clemson to outlast Penn State 101-94 in double overtime on Tuesday night as a part of the Big Ten-ACC Challenge at Littlejohn Coliseum.
Penn State jumped out to a 12-3 run to start the game with Camren Wynter connected on his first two three-point shots. Alex Hemenway connected on two consecutive three-point shots to keep Clemson in the game early in the half. Penn State kept the lead throughout the first half despite Clemson’s three-point shooting barrage shooting in the first half.
During the first half, Clemson tried to fight back even tying the game at 21 in the middle of the first half, Penn State had an answered back with three-point shots by Seth Lundy. This coincided with Jalen Pickett coming back into the game after a brief rest to allow Clemson to stay in the game.
Penn State led Clemson 35-29 at halftime. Penn State and Clemson each had seven assists in the first half. Clemson outrebounded Penn State 16-15, but Penn State recorded four steals to Clemson’s one. Penn State shot 6-for-13 from the three-point line, while Clemson shot 5-for-10 from three.
Clemson took its first lead since early in the first half on a Ben Middlebrooks layup to put Clemson up 38-37 early in the second half was a part of a 17-2 run that overlapped the end of the first half, and the start of the second half. Clemson came out at halftime as the more aggressive team at the start of the second half. Andrew Funk broke the run by hitting three consecutive free throws. Penn State went cold making one of its first ten shots, including six consecutive three-point shots, however, Clemson also went cold during certain points in the second half to allow Penn State to stay in the game. Penn State tied the game at 58 on a Lundy three-pointer with 4:38 left. Clemson answered back with Tyson’s two free throws, and a three-pointer. Clemson was up 69-62 with 45 seconds left in the game, but Penn State chipped away then Funk hit a three-pointer with five seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 71 going into overtime.
Penn State and Clemson went back and forth in overtime with each team scoring in its first three trips down the court. Penn State finally made a stop, and Pickett made a jumper to put Penn State 79-78. After PJ Hall made one of two free throws, Pickett made another jumper to put Penn State up 81-79 with 1:40 left. Then after two more Hall free throws, Wynter hit another jump shot to put Penn State up 83-81. Clemson answered with a PJ Hall layup with five seconds left to tie the score of 83 going to a second overtime
.
The second overtime started with a Hemenway three-pointer and a jumper by Funk. After a Lundy three-pointer to tie the game at 88, Clemson scored the last six points with jumpers from Hall and Tyson and a layup by Brevin Calloway to effectively put the game out of reach.
Wynter led all scorers with 26 points and made three 3-point field goals. Pickett finished with 23 points and led Penn State in assists with seven. Lundy scored 23 points and led Penn State with 12 rebounds. Tyson led Clemson with a career-high 24 points and nine rebounds. Hemenway finished with 15 points going 4-for-6 from three-point line.
Penn State will play its conference opener at home against Michigan State a week from Wednesday.
