Clemson Tigers at Syracuse Orange
· NCAA Men's BasketballGodfrey scores 14, Welling plays key role in final seconds and Clemson edges Syracuse 64-61
Donnie Freeman's fastbreak layup got Syracuse within 63-61 points with 43 seconds remaining in the game. William Kyle III blocked a layup by Dillon Hunter on the next possession, but Clemson grabbed the offensive rebound and Welling was fouled with 14 seconds left.
Welling made one free throw for a three-point lead, then Freeman missed a 3-pointer for Syracuse. Naithan George rebounded for the Orange but Welling stole a pass to give Clemson possession. Jake Wahlin was fouled with less than a second remaining and the Tigers held on for the win.
Freeman had 18 points and nine rebounds and George contributed 10 points for Syracuse (9-5, 0-1 ACC).
Hunter scored 10 for Clemson (11-3, 1-0).
After Clemson led 29-28 at halftime, Butta Johnson's 3-pointer gave the Tigers a 43-33 lead with 13 1/2 minutes remaining.
Freeman, who missed the last nine games with a lower-body injury, scored his first nine points of the game and the Orange trailed 54-50 after he and Clemson's Hunter swapped 3-pointers.
Hunter hit another 3 for a 57-50 lead with 5 minutes left and his layup with 3 1/2 minutes to go made it 59-50.
The Tigers hit 4 of their first 5 shots and took an early 12-3 lead but Syracuse battled back, eventually going ahead 24-23 on a 3-pointer by George with 6 1/2 minutes left in the half. There were five more lead changes the remainder of the half.
Syracuse: at Georgia Tech on Tuesday.
How can I watch Clemson vs. Syracuse?
Recent Plays
| 2nd 0:00 | End of Game | 64 - 61 |
| 2nd 0:00 | End of 2nd half | 64 - 61 |
| 2nd 0:00 | Naithan George Defensive Rebound. | 64 - 61 |
| 2nd 0:00 | Jake Wahlin misses free throw 1 of 1 | 64 - 61 |
| 2nd 0:00 | Foul on J.J. Starling. | 64 - 61 |
Statistics
CLEM |
SYR |
|
|---|---|---|
| 27-56 | FG | 18-45 |
| 48 | Field Goal % | 40 |
| 4-16 | 3PT | 5-15 |
| 25 | Three Point % | 33 |
| 6-12 | FT | 20-24 |
| 50 | Free Throw % | 83 |
| 31 | Rebounds | 30 |
| 7 | Offensive Rebounds | 5 |
| 24 | Defensive Rebounds | 25 |
| 9 | Assists | 8 |
| 10 | Steals | 3 |
| 2 | Blocks | 6 |
| 12 | Turnovers | 15 |
| 4 | Team Turnovers | 1 |
| 12 | Total Turnovers | 15 |
| 0 | Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 0 | Total Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 0 | Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
| 13 | Points Off Turnovers | 13 |
| 6 | Fast Break Points | 13 |
| 46 | Points in Paint | 24 |
| 18 | Fouls | 14 |
| 10 | Largest Lead | 1 |
| 11 | Lead Changes | 11 |
| 86 | Percent Led | 12 |
Game Information
Location: Syracuse, NY
Attendance: 16,245 | Capacity:
2025-26 Atlantic Coast Conference Standings
| TEAM | CONF | GB | OVER |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke | 9-0 | - | 20-1 |
| Clemson | 8-1 | 1 | 18-4 |
| Virginia | 7-2 | 2 | 18-3 |
| NC State | 7-2 | 2 | 16-6 |
| Miami | 6-3 | 3 | 17-5 |
| North Carolina | 5-3 | 3.5 | 17-4 |
| Louisville | 5-4 | 4 | 15-6 |
| Virginia Tech | 5-5 | 4.5 | 16-7 |
| SMU | 4-4 | 4.5 | 15-6 |
| California | 4-5 | 5 | 16-6 |
| Syracuse | 4-5 | 5 | 13-9 |
| Stanford | 3-6 | 6 | 14-8 |
| Florida State | 3-6 | 6 | 10-12 |
| Boston College | 2-6 | 6.5 | 9-12 |
| Georgia Tech | 2-7 | 7 | 11-11 |
| Notre Dame | 2-7 | 7 | 11-11 |
| Wake Forest | 2-7 | 7 | 11-11 |
| Pittsburgh | 2-7 | 7 | 9-13 |


CLEM
SYR