After a brutal loss at the buzzer earlier in the week and playing in a midday slot right after finishing the final, Clemson looked flat at times against Mercer. Still, the Tigers relied on late execution and defensive stops to earn a 70-63 victory and move to 8-3 on the season.
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Clemson opened the game with energy, jumping out to a 12-4 lead behind the top three and strong inside play from Nick Davidson. However, Mercer responded quickly, using hot shots and Clemson turnovers to turn the game around and take the lead into halftime. The Bears confidently shot from deep in the first half and forced Clemson to play from behind for much of the first 20 minutes.
The second half told a different story. Clemson shifted its focus to attacking the rim, finishing consistently around the basket and getting to the free throw line much more frequently. That approach helped the Tigers rally and they eventually regained the lead midway through the half.
A Zac Foster 3-pointer with just over four minutes left gave Clemson a lead it wouldn’t give back. From there, Dillon Hunter sealed the game at the line, finishing with a team-high 15 points.
The victory marked Brad Brownell’s 300th victory as Clemson head coach and broke a brief skid. The Tigers now turn their attention to a home matchup against South Carolina on Tuesday night.
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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Clemson avoids upset, beats Mercer in second half to win