Clemson Basketball: Tigers dismantle Pitt, remain in control of ACC destiny

SUNRISE, FL - DECEMBER 16: Donte Grantham
SUNRISE, FL - DECEMBER 16: Donte Grantham /
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The Clemson basketball team dismantled the Pitt Panthers on Thursday night and, as a result, remained in control of their ACC and NCAA Tourney destiny.

The Clemson basketball team improved to 20-4 overall and 9-3 in the ACC with a 72-48 win over the Pitt Panthers on Thursday night.

Thursday was 90’s night for Clemson basketball in Littlejohn and the Tigers, for lack of a better phrase, “took Pitt to school.”

At halftime, the Tigers led by just 10, but turned it on in the 2nd half leading by 30 at one point before finishing with the 24-point win.

Box Score:

Statistical Leaders:

SCORING- Gabe DeVoe 25, Shelton Mitchell 12, Elijah Thomas 10.

REBOUNDS- Thomas 11, DeVoe 6.

ASSISTS- Marcquise Reed 7.

As a team, Clemson basketball shot 46 percent from the field. The Tigers hit their first six three-point attempts of the second half.

Gabe DeVoe scored 19 points in the second half on his way to tying his career-high.

Tigers Control Their Own Destiny

Everyone pretty much knew Clemson would win this game tonight. Pitt has yet to win an ACC game and that wasn’t going to happen tonight.

It was the way that the Tigers won, though, that is so impressive.

It was a “work man-like” effort in which they just came up, took care of business, and pretty controlled the game from start-to-finish.

Pitt was able to keep it close for a half, but Clemson just proved to be the better team in the second half just absolutely dominating the Panthers 40-26 in the final 20 minutes.

With the win, Clemson still controls its own ACC destiny.

The Tigers are looking for a double-bye in the ACC Tournament and they control that. They don’t have to have any other team lose, all they have to do is win.

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What’s next?

Clemson gets another little break as they don’t play again until Wednesday.

The Tigers will travel to Florida State at 7 p.m. that night. Clemson will face Duke at home that following Sunday at 1 p.m.