Clemson baskstball did not have to wait long to see what its revamped roster could offer around Ace Buckner. With four newcomers reaching double figures and Buckner delivering a career-best scoring performance, the Tigers opened their season with an 85-72 victory over Stetson on Monday at Littlejohn Coliseum.
Buckner led the way with 20 points, while Samford transfer Dylan Faulkner introduced himself with 16 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. David Fuchs, Liutauras Lelevicius and Cole Certa also scored in double figures, giving Brad Brownell a balanced offensive effort to begin his 17th season at Clemson.
The Tigers led throughout, but their most productive stretch came late in the first half. Clemson scored the final 12 points before intermission,
holding Stetson scoreless over the last 5:15 to establish a 49-24 advantage.
That finish followed some uneven shooting early, including five consecutive misses from Buckner to begin his night. The returning guard found opportunities at the free-throw line before getting his offense going, scoring 12 points before halftime.
Chase Thompson also helped Clemson settle in with multiple early 3-pointers, while Faulkner and Fuchs provided scoring near the basket. The Tigers finished the opening half with a 20-10 edge in paint points and made 14 of their 18 free throws.
Taking care of the ball helped Clemson maximize those opportunities. The Tigers committed just one turnover before halftime, compared with seven for Stetson, and entered the break with their largest lead of the night.
The Hatters made the second half more competitive, eventually cutting the margin to 13. Buckner answered with a burst that helped Clemson regain momentum, following a dunk with back-to-back 3-pointers to account for eight straight Tigers points.
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He finished 6 of 14 from the field despite his slow start, giving Clemson a strong opening performance from one of its returning contributors.
Lelevicius finished with 13 points, Fuchs added 12 and Certa supplied 11 points and six assists. Clemson shot 51 percent overall, connected on 9 of 24 attempts from 3-point range and recorded 17 assists on 25 made baskets. The Tigers also scored 26 points on 35 free-throw attempts.
Clemson continues its opening homestand Friday against American. Tipoff at Littlejohn Coliseum is scheduled for 7 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.
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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Clemson men’s basketball opens season with dominant home win over Stetson
