Behind timely shooting from Jestin Porter and Butta Johnson, the Clemson Tigers outlasted Pittsburgh 73–68 on Saturday night, extending their ACC road winning streak to 10 games and opening conference play 2–0 on the road for the first time in program history.
“It was a great road win for our team,” Clemson head coach Brad Brownell said.
Turning Point: Back-to-Back Threes
The Tigers (12–3, 2–0 ACC) trailed 56–53 midway through the second half when Johnson stepped into a corner three with 8:46 remaining, tying the game and halting Pitt’s momentum.
From there, Porter took control.
The junior guard buried back-to-back three-pointers over the next three minutes, pushing Clemson ahead 62–58 — a lead it would not relinquish.
“We were down three and that was a huge shot by Butta down in the corner,” Brownell said. “Then it got our scoring back in the right direction. Fortunately, we kind of ended the game right with us getting the last run.”
Porter Delivers Late
Porter finished with a game-high 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including 3-for-6 from beyond the arc. He added a driving layup and two free throws in the closing moments to seal the win.
“We’ve been in that position a lot throughout the season,” Porter said. “We just sustained our offense and defense and got the win.”
Johnson provided a spark off the bench with 10 points, going 3-for-5 from three-point range.
Depth Makes the Difference
Clemson’s balance again proved decisive. RJ Godfrey and Nick Davidson each scored 14 points, with Davidson also coming off the bench to bolster the Tigers during key stretches.
The victory marked Clemson’s 14th consecutive win over the Panthers and continued a run of close, physical games between the programs that have often tilted Clemson’s way.
“Some of that is luck — it’s basketball,” Brownell said. “We’ve had so many close games with Pitt over the years and have been fortunate to win most of the close ones here recently.”
What’s Next
Clemson will look to carry that momentum back to Littlejohn Coliseum on Wednesday night, hosting SMU Mustangs in its ACC home opener. Tipoff is set for 9 p.m. ET.
For now, the Tigers continue to prove they travel well — and finish even better.