MEMPHIS, Tenn. — No. 6 seed Clemson withstood a late cost from No. 3 seed Baylor on Sunday, holding on for a 72-64 victory within the second spherical of the NCAA Event to succeed in the Candy 16. The Bears almost erased a 15-point deficit within the closing seven minutes and had an opportunity to tie the sport with beneath a minute to play.
Nonetheless, freshman wing Ja’Kobe Walter missed two free throws with 36 seconds remaining that might have tied the sport. From there, the Tigers drilled 6-of-6 free-throw makes an attempt to ice the sport.
With Clemson’s win, 4 of the 5 ACC groups that reached the NCAA Event have now reached the Candy 16. It is this system’s first Candy 16 look since 2018 and simply its second Candy 16 since 1997. The Tigers hadn’t received an NCAA Event recreation since their 2018 run till this weekend.
Chase Hunter led Clemson with 20 whereas Joe Girard added 13. The Tigers will play No. 2 seed Arizona within the Candy 16 on Thursday in Los Angeles.
The loss ends Baylor’s season within the second spherical for a 3rd consecutive season following the Bears’ nationwide title in 2021. RayJ Dennis led Baylor with 27 factors and was instrumental in sparking the Bears’ comeback.
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Walter added 20 factors and was inconsolable within the moments after the ultimate horn sounded. The projected 2024 NBA Draft lottery choose completed 6 of 13 from the ground however was haunted by a 5-of-11 efficiency on the free-throw line because the Bears hit simply 16 of 26 (61.5%) from the charity stripe as a group. They entered taking pictures 73.6% from the road on the season.
“The irony is we spent extra time taking pictures free throws with this group than every other group,” Baylor coach Scott Drew stated. “And we have actually made a whole lot of strides and a whole lot of enchancment, however at present we bought snake bit. And Ja’Kobe is considered one of our greatest free throw shooters, has been all 12 months. If it was late within the recreation, we would attempt to get him the ball.”
Clemson’s persistence pays off
As RJ Godfrey corralled a game-clinching rebound with beneath 10 seconds remaining and was wrapped up in a foul by a Baylor participant, Clemson guard Joe Girard broke out right into a joyful skip down the sideline, pumping his arms to solicit most noise from the Tigers’ contingent of touring followers. It was the second when it grew to become clear the Tigers had withstood Baylor’s push for a legendary comeback.
Clemson was on the mistaken finish of a seemingly endless sequence of shut losses this season, together with one on this identical constructing in opposition to Memphis on Dec. 16, when it misplaced 79-77. Courting again to that defeat, Clemson had misplaced 5 straight in video games determined by three factors or much less. As Baylor rallied, it appeared one other dreaded possession recreation could possibly be coming.
This time, the Tigers held on. And all of the tribulations which preceded the triumph made the second even sweeter. After rising as excessive as No. 13 within the AP ballot at one level and turning heads with a win at North Carolina on Feb. 6, Clemson got here into the Large Dance struggling.
The Tigers had dropped three of 4, with every defeat coming in opposition to a non-NCAA Event group. The vibes hit all-time low in a 76-55 loss to Boston Faculty in Clemson’s ACC Event opener.
“Firstly of the 12 months, we knew we had a whole lot of expertise, we knew we had a whole lot of potential and other people nonetheless weren’t essentially believing in us,” senior ahead and main scorer PJ Corridor stated. “So once we got here out, we had been like ‘alright, neglect all that. Let’s get on the market and present folks.’ Then we grew to become the particular person with a goal on our again and there have been instances we bought just a little complacent. Now we have gotten again in that seat the place we are the hunter. I feel that is actually sharpened our aggressive edge.”
Baylor’s season ends in agony
Baylor entered ranked No. 7 nationally in 3-point proportion at 39.4% following a 16 of 30 displaying from past the arc in a 92-67 win over Colgate on Friday. Towards Clemson, the Bears hit simply 6 of 24 from 3-point vary and solely 3 of 15 within the second half.
“I feel it’s important to credit score their size,” Drew stated. “Defensively, they’re superb. Brad does a fantastic job. However their size, not many individuals have a 6-foot-10 three man after which a frontline that large. I do not know if that affected a few of our photographs, however I might give them positively credit score for it.”
The Bears gave themselves a shot with their livid. Finally, coming so shut could have made the agonoy of defeat extra painful.
“It is laborious as a result of while you coach 30-plus years, there’s sure groups which can be simply extra particular than others due to the bond you may have,” Drew stated. “They had been all raised proper. They had been all such a fun-loving group, revered each other. All of it begins with the upperclassmen management, which was phenomenal all 12 months. However usually you may have one or two guys that are not energy-givers and they are often an energy-vampire. You might need a win however they did not get their factors and so they’re just a little upset, and you’re feeling that. This group, you simply did not. We did not have any of that.”