Clemson Tigers at Florida Gators
· METROPCS ORANGE BOWL CLASSIC
71 - 69
Clemson rallies past No. 22 Florida 71-69
With Clemson trailing 68-67, Reed rebounded a missed 3-point attempt by KeVaughn Allen and threw a football-style pass from one free-throw lane to the other, hitting Thomas on the run for an easy score.
Clemson (9-1) beat a ranked team for only the eighth time in school history and continued its best start since 2008. Florida (6-4) lost for the fourth time in the past five games.
The Tigers won despite having a point taken off the scoreboard with 4 seconds left. Thomas' free throw put Clemson ahead 70-68, but the point was wiped out when the officials realized it was Reed who had been fouled.
Reed then made two free throws to help seal the win. He finished with 22 points, six assists and five rebounds.
Gabe DeVoe added 19 points and six rebounds for the Tigers, who shot 51 percent. Clemson coach Brad Brownell earned his 300th victory.
Jalen Hudson scored the Gators' first 12 points and finished with 23.
Egor Koulechov sank a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to give the Gators a 40-33 halftime lead, and they were up 47-35 early in the second half. Clemson took its first lead since 4 minutes into the game when DeVoe sank a 3-pointer to make it 67-66.
The meeting was the first between the teams since 1957.
No. 19 Florida State lost to Oklahoma State 71-70 in the first game of the doubleheader.
BIG PICTURE
Florida coach Mike White has been unhappy with his team's transition defense. The Gators allowed only seven fast-break points, but that included Thomas' decisive dunk.
UP NEXT
The Gators play host to James Madison on Wednesday.
Clemson plays host to South Carolina on Tuesday.
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Recent Plays
| 2nd 0:00 | End of Game | 71 - 69 |
| 2nd 0:02 | Egor Koulechov Defensive Rebound. | 71 - 69 |
| 2nd 0:02 | David Skara missed Free Throw. | 71 - 69 |
| 2nd 0:02 | Clemson Deadball Team Rebound. | 71 - 69 |
| 2nd 0:02 | David Skara missed Free Throw. | 71 - 69 |
Statistics
 CLEM |
 FLA |
|
|---|---|---|
| 23-45 | FG | 25-61 |
| 51 | Field Goal % | 41 |
| 5-11 | 3PT | 10-24 |
| 45 | Three Point % | 42 |
| 20-30 | FT | 9-17 |
| 67 | Free Throw % | 53 |
| 33 | Rebounds | 35 |
| 7 | Offensive Rebounds | 15 |
| 26 | Defensive Rebounds | 20 |
| 11 | Assists | 8 |
| 7 | Steals | 7 |
| 5 | Blocks | 2 |
| 15 | Turnovers | 11 |
| 0 | Team Turnovers | 0 |
| 15 | Total Turnovers | 11 |
| 0 | Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 0 | Total Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 0 | Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
| 17 | Points Off Turnovers | 18 |
| 7 | Fast Break Points | 2 |
| 32 | Points in Paint | 24 |
| 17 | Fouls | 21 |
| 3 | Largest Lead | 10 |
Game Information
Location: Sunrise, FL
Attendance: 9,152 | Capacity:
2025-26 Atlantic Coast Conference Standings
| TEAM | CONF | GB | OVER |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke | 17-1 | - | 35-3 |
| Virginia | 15-3 | 2 | 30-6 |
| Miami | 13-5 | 4 | 26-9 |
| North Carolina | 12-6 | 5 | 24-9 |
| Clemson | 12-6 | 5 | 24-11 |
| Louisville | 11-7 | 6 | 24-11 |
| NC State | 10-8 | 7 | 20-14 |
| Florida State | 10-8 | 7 | 18-15 |
| California | 9-9 | 8 | 22-12 |
| Stanford | 9-9 | 8 | 20-13 |
| Virginia Tech | 8-10 | 9 | 19-13 |
| SMU | 8-10 | 9 | 20-14 |
| Wake Forest | 7-11 | 10 | 18-17 |
| Syracuse | 6-12 | 11 | 15-17 |
| Pittsburgh | 5-13 | 12 | 13-20 |
| Notre Dame | 4-14 | 13 | 13-18 |
| Boston College | 4-14 | 13 | 11-20 |
| Georgia Tech | 2-16 | 15 | 11-20 |
2025-26 Southeastern Conference Standings
| TEAM | CONF | GB | OVER |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 16-2 | - | 27-8 |
| Arkansas | 13-5 | 3 | 28-9 |
| Alabama | 13-5 | 3 | 25-10 |
| Vanderbilt | 11-7 | 5 | 27-9 |
| Tennessee | 11-7 | 5 | 25-12 |
| Texas A&M | 11-7 | 5 | 22-12 |
| Georgia | 10-8 | 6 | 22-11 |
| Kentucky | 10-8 | 6 | 22-14 |
| Missouri | 10-8 | 6 | 20-13 |
| Texas | 9-9 | 7 | 21-15 |
| Auburn | 7-11 | 9 | 22-16 |
| Oklahoma | 7-11 | 9 | 21-16 |
| Mississippi State | 5-13 | 11 | 13-19 |
| Ole Miss | 4-14 | 12 | 15-20 |
| South Carolina | 4-14 | 12 | 13-19 |
| LSU | 3-15 | 13 | 15-17 |