CLEMSON, SC -
Devin Booker scored 13 points and Milton Jennings added 12 in leading the Tiger men's basketball team to a 70-45 victory over Alabama State on Monday night at Littlejohn Coliseum.
It was Clemson's (6-4) second consecutive win heading into the Christmas holiday, which the team will spend in Honolulu, HI at the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic.
The Tigers used offensive balance and defensive pressure to pick up the victory, much as they did in Saturday's 60-40 win over Winthrop. Booker was 3-of-7 from the floor, but he nailed seven of his eight free throw attempts and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Tigers in both categories. Jennings made all four of his field goal attempts and was a perfect 4-for-4 from the foul line. Clemson shot exactly fifty percent (24-48) for the game.
The two forwards led a solid effort for the Tigers inside. They outrebounded the Hornets 40-27 and brought down 12 offensive boards. The Tigers were also able to attack the rim and get to the foul line, where they converted 18-of-25 free throw attempts.
"We had a nice offensive performance," Head Coach Brad Brownell said. "We had good stats, except a few too many turnovers. We attempted one or two threes that were a little quick, but in games like this, that's probably to be expected."
Once again, the Tigers were able to hold an opponent to a low field goal percentage, as the Hornets shot just 32.7 percent (17-52) from the floor. Kenderek Washington was the team's leading scorer with 10 points, and Tramaine Butler and Stephawn Brown added nine apiece.
Clemson began the game on a 12-3 run that lasted more than eight minutes as both teams struggled to make baskets. Alabama State missed its first five shot attempts and connected on just one of its first 13 shots as the Tigers built the lead. Back-to-back three-pointers by Washington trimmed the Clemson lead to five at 14-9, but the Tigers then scored five straight points to extend the lead to double digits.
After Booker hit a pair of free throws with 4:23 remaining to give the Tigers a 29-19 advantage, the lead never dipped into single digits again. Clemson closed the first half with a 9-2 run that was punctuated by a Booker slam dunk that made it a 36-21 score.
The Tigers mostly managed the lead to begin the second half until a 13-4 run that spanned 6:35 gave Clemson the lead at 58-36 with 7:14 to play.
After a travel period, the Tigers will return to action in Honolulu on Thursday, December 22 against UTEP. Tipoff is scheduled for 2:30 PM (9:30 AM local), and the game will be televised on ESPNU.
Clemson vs. Alabama State Postgame Quotes Clemson Head Coach Brad Brownell
On his team's play:
"We had a nice offensive performance. We shot 50 percent. We got 25 free throws, which is something we've been talking about. We had 12 offensive rebounds and 16 assisted baskets. So we had good stats, except for turnovers. We maybe attempted one or two threes that were a little quick, but in games like this, that's probably to be expected."
On the development of K.J. McDaniels:
"He's very athletic, but at times he relies on his athleticism instead of sound basketball plays. Your athleticism can be a detriment if you don't know how to use it. Even though he is athletic and he can jump up and make blocks and have some spectacular tip dunks like the one he had tonight, he really needs to learn how to be more physical. There are the two wow plays that you see with the athleticism that not very many other players can make, but the physical plays are almost every possession. The mental plays are every possession."
On the lessons his team can take from the last two games against Winthrop and Alabama State:
"I think Winthrop is a pretty talented group. They have some good players.
I think we can build from that certainly. This was good to get some guys more game experience, because we were more talented than Alabama State. In the Winthrop game, I thought we had to come in and be focused, and I thought we set the tone early and never let Winthrop get comfortable. We started to do the same thing in the Coastal (Carolina) game, and then we just gave them baskets in the second half off of turnovers that gave them a chance to win. But I thought our play against Winthrop was very good and a step in the right direction."
On the team's opponents at the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu:
"I haven't seen any of UTEP yet. I haven't even accidentally seen them on television. I've seen Kansas State, and they're really good and very physical and really athletic and strong and tough. I have not seen Southern Illinois, but Chris Lowery and I went to high school together. I know how he coaches, and he coaches like I coach with a lot of motion offense and physical defense. So, the competition will be good. I know that UTEP has a young team, but Coach (Tim) Floyd is very good. So this will be a good tournament for our guys. We need to play well."
Courtesy: Clemson Sports Information
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