Clemson basketball uses 69-point first half to roll past Queens in nonconference game
Clemson dominated in a pre-Christmas tune-up against Queens on Friday night, bolting to a 69-35 halftime lead and coasting from there to a 109-79 nonconference victory at Littlejohn Coliseum.
The Tigers shot 71% in the first half; their 69 points tied the school record and ranks as the most in coach Brad Brownell’s 14 seasons. The team's 109 points also were the most ever for a Brownell-coached Clemson team.
The Tigers (10-1), who are ranked 18th in the latest USA TODAY Coaches Poll, continued their best start since the 2008-09 season by getting double-figure scoring from four players. PJ Hall led the way with a game-high 27 points on 11-of-13 shooting from the floor.
PJ Hall may be the ACC's Player of the Year
One would be hard-pressed to find a player with a more versatile game. One of only three players in the nation who leads his team in scoring, blocked shots and steals, Hall’s decision to return to Clemson for a final season after an impressive showing at the NBA combine is paying off as his stock is rising even higher in the eyes of NBA scouts.
Hall has scored in double figures in 21 consecutive games dating to last season and ranks second in the league in scoring at 20.5 points per game. He’s also second in the ACC in blocked shots (2.40 per game) and fifth in field goal percentage (54%). For good measure, he averages 7.1 rebounds and shoots 39.6% from 3-point range.
RJ Godfrey coming on strong for Clemson
Godfrey could be a difference maker as the Tigers prepare to plunge into ACC play in earnest on Jan. 3. A 6-foot-8 sophomore, he got off to a red-hot start Friday against Queens, matching his career high with 12 points in the first 14 minutes.
Godfrey, whose father, Randall, was a 12-year NFL veteran, showed plenty of toughness against the Royals, repeatedly banging inside for baskets. He finished with 19 points on 8-of-9 shooting in only 17 minutes of playing time. Godfrey also had four rebounds and two assists.
Clemson riding high heading into holiday break
The Tigers are playing well as they get some time off for the holidays. They won’t play again until hosting Radford on Dec. 29 — the same day the Tigers’ football team will play Kentucky in the Gator Bowl.
Clemson missed the NCAA Tournament last season despite a third-place ACC finish. It upgraded its nonconference schedule in the offseason, adding home-and-home series against Memphis and Boise State, and facing Alabama in the ACC/SEC Challenge. The Tigers own wins against Alabama and Boise State and lost by two points at Memphis. They are ranked 13th in the NET rankings — higher than any ACC team.
Scott Keepfer covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at skeepfer@gannett.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ScottKeepfer
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson basketball goes into high-scoring mode vs. Queens
