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CLEM

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Hunter scores 21, No. 10 Clemson battles back to beat SMU 57-54 to reach ACC Tournament semifinals

AP
Mar 14, 2025

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) Chase Hunter scored 21 points, Jaeden Zackery added 11 points and No. 10 Clemson battled back to beat SMU 57-54 on Thursday night for its ninth straight win to reach the Atlantic Coast Conference semifinals.

Ian Schieffelin chipped in with nine points and 12 rebounds for the Tigers (27-5), who are seeking their first ACC Tournament title.

Matt Cross led SMU (23-10) with 13 points, while Boopie Miller had 10.

SMU led most of the second half, but Viktor Lakhin’s lane jumper gave the Tigers a 52-51 lead with 4:50 left in the game.

SMU had a chance to tie or take the lead after Hunter missed a 3 with 17 seconds left. The Mustangs called timeout with 12.5 seconds left, but Chuck Harris missed a corner 3. There was a battle for the rebound before the ball went out of bounds. It was initially ruled the ball went off a Clemson player, but after reviewing the play officials ruled SMU touched the ball last.

Hunter was fouled on the inbounds play and made a free throw with 2.1 seconds. Cross' full-court heave at the buzzer fell short.

SMU: Cross picked up his fourth foul midway through the second half, but the Mustangs didn't waiver and stayed right with the Tigers until the end.

Clemson: Starting guard Dillon Hunter appeared to jam a finger late in the first half and did not return. Coach Brad Brownell said after the game Hunter might have broken his hand. Hunter had an ice bag on his right hand in the locker room after the game. He will have X-rays on Friday.

Hunter drove through the lane, stopped and then hit a turnaround jumper to put Clemson up by four with less than two minutes remaining.

SMU finished 1 of 14 from 3-point range.

Clemson moves on to face No. 13 Louisville, a 75-73 winner over Stanford, in the semifinals. SMU looks to be headed to the NIT.

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1st Half
SMU
Mustangs
27
CLEM
Tigers
28

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Samet Yiğitoğlu vs. Viktor Lakhin (Jaeden Zackery gains possession)
19:30	+2	Ian Schieffelin makes two point turnaround hook shot	0-2
19:09		Kevin Miller misses two point driving floating jump shot
19:07		Ian Schieffelin defensive rebound
18:54		Viktor Lakhin misses three point jump shot
18:52		B.J. Edwards defensive rebound
18:33		B.J. Edwards turnover (bad pass) (Jaeden Zackery steals)
18:26		Samet Yiğitoğlu shooting foul (Chase Hunter draws the foul)
18:26		Chase Hunter misses regular free throw 1 of 2
18:26	+1	Chase Hunter makes regular free throw 2 of 2	0-3
18:10	+2	Kevin Miller makes two point driving floating jump shot	2-3
18:00		Chase Hunter turnover (double dribble)
17:48		Chuck Harris misses three point jump shot
17:46		Tigers defensive rebound
17:36	+2	Jaeden Zackery makes two point cutting layup (Ian Schieffelin assists)	2-5
17:19		Samet Yiğitoğlu turnover (carrying)
17:07		Jaeden Zackery misses two point jump shot
17:05		Chase Hunter offensive rebound
17:00	+2	Viktor Lakhin makes two point turnaround bank hook shot (Ian Schieffelin assists)	2-7
16:26		Chuck Harris misses two point driving layup
16:24		Chase Hunter defensive rebound
16:16		Viktor Lakhin turnover (bad pass)
15:56	+2	Yohan Traore makes two point reverse layup	4-7
15:39	+2	Jaeden Zackery makes two point turnaround jump shot	4-9
15:22		B.J. Edwards misses two point driving layup
15:20		Ian Schieffelin defensive rebound
15:14		Chase Hunter turnover (traveling)
15:14		TV timeout
15:00	+2	Samet Yiğitoğlu makes two point cutting dunk (Matt Cross assists)	6-9
14:47		Del Jones misses two point driving floating jump shot
14:45		Samet Yiğitoğlu defensive rebound
14:15		Mustangs turnover (shot clock violation)
13:50		Chauncey Wiggins misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot
13:48		Matt Cross defensive rebound
13:38		Chauncey Wiggins personal foul (Matt Cross draws the foul)
13:38		B.J. Edwards turnover (lost ball) (Viktor Lakhin steals)
13:33		Jump ball. Del Jones vs. Matt Cross (Mustangs gains possession)
13:33		Del Jones turnover (lost ball) (Matt Cross steals)
13:32		Kario Oquendo turnover (out of bounds)
13:11		Ian Schieffelin misses two point driving layup
13:09		Ian Schieffelin offensive rebound
13:07		Jaeden Zackery misses three point jump shot
13:05		Kario Oquendo defensive rebound
12:53		Kario Oquendo offensive foul (Jake Heidbreder draws the foul)
12:53		Kario Oquendo turnover (offensive foul)
12:32		B.J. Edwards shooting foul (Viktor Lakhin draws the foul)
12:32	+1	Viktor Lakhin makes regular free throw 1 of 2	6-10
12:32		Viktor Lakhin misses regular free throw 2 of 2
12:32		Samet Yiğitoğlu defensive rebound
12:17		Kevin Miller turnover (bad pass)
12:04		Dillon Hunter turnover (bad pass)
11:54		B.J. Edwards misses two point driving layup
11:52		Jake Heidbreder defensive rebound
11:45		TV timeout
11:34		Jake Heidbreder misses three point jump shot
11:32		Samet Yiğitoğlu defensive rebound
11:20		Viktor Lakhin shooting foul (Chuck Harris draws the foul)
11:20	+1	Chuck Harris makes regular free throw 1 of 2	7-10
11:20	+1	Chuck Harris makes regular free throw 2 of 2	8-10
11:10		Jaeden Zackery turnover (bad pass) (B.J. Edwards steals)
11:07		B.J. Edwards misses two point driving layup
11:05		Chuck Harris offensive rebound
11:04		Chuck Harris misses two point putback layup
11:02		Viktor Lakhin defensive rebound
11:00		Jump ball. Viktor Lakhin vs. Chuck Harris (Tigers gains possession)
10:39		Jake Heidbreder misses three point jump shot
10:37		Chuck Harris defensive rebound
10:23		Matt Cross misses three point jump shot
10:21		Christian Reeves defensive rebound
10:12	+2	Jaeden Zackery makes two point driving bank hook shot	8-12
9:45		Samet Yiğitoğlu turnover (bad pass) (Jaeden Zackery steals)
9:40	+2	Chase Hunter makes two point cutting layup (Jaeden Zackery assists)	8-14
9:39		Mustangs 30 second timeout
9:08		Chase Hunter blocks Chuck Harris's three point jump shot
9:07		Mustangs offensive rebound
9:07		Mustangs turnover (shot clock violation)
8:57		Chase Hunter misses two point turnaround jump shot
8:55		Kario Oquendo defensive rebound
8:48	+2	Kevin Miller makes two point driving layup	10-14
8:34		Jaeden Zackery misses three point jump shot
8:30		Tigers offensive rebound
8:24	+3	Jake Heidbreder makes three point jump shot (Chase Hunter assists)	10-17
7:56		Tibet Gorener misses three point jump shot
7:54		Yohan Traore offensive rebound
7:53		Jump ball. Yohan Traore vs. Jaeden Zackery (Mustangs gains possession)
7:53		TV timeout
7:52		Kevin Miller turnover (bad pass) (Christian Reeves steals)
7:50		Yohan Traore personal foul (Christian Reeves draws the foul)
7:35		Jaeden Zackery turnover (lost ball) (Matt Cross steals)
7:30	+2	B.J. Edwards makes two point driving dunk (Matt Cross assists)	12-17
7:12		Christian Reeves misses two point turnaround hook shot
7:10		Tibet Gorener defensive rebound
6:48	+2	Matt Cross makes two point turnaround hook shot	14-17
6:34		Matt Cross shooting foul (Christian Reeves draws the foul)
6:34	+1	Christian Reeves makes regular free throw 1 of 2	14-18
6:34	+1	Christian Reeves makes regular free throw 2 of 2	14-19
6:23		Kevin Miller misses three point stepback jump shot
6:21		Tigers defensive rebound
6:01	+3	Chase Hunter makes three point jump shot (Jaeden Zackery assists)	14-22
5:39		Chase Hunter shooting foul (Yohan Traore draws the foul)
5:39		Yohan Traore misses regular free throw 1 of 2
5:39	+1	Yohan Traore makes regular free throw 2 of 2	15-22
5:23		Chauncey Wiggins turnover (bad pass) (Kevin Miller steals)
5:17		Chase Hunter blocks Yohan Traore's two point dunk
5:15		Mustangs offensive rebound
5:11		Chuck Harris misses three point jump shot
5:09		Viktor Lakhin defensive rebound
4:44		Jump ball. Viktor Lakhin vs. Matt Cross (Tigers gains possession)
4:41		Jaeden Zackery misses two point pullup jump shot
4:39		Samet Yiğitoğlu defensive rebound
4:34	+2	Keon Ambrose-Hylton makes two point driving bank hook shot (Kevin Miller assists)	17-22
4:12		Kevin Miller shooting foul (Viktor Lakhin draws the foul)
4:12	+1	Viktor Lakhin makes regular free throw 1 of 2	17-23
4:12	+1	Viktor Lakhin makes regular free throw 2 of 2	17-24
3:54	+2	Chuck Harris makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot	19-24
3:24		Del Jones misses three point stepback jump shot
3:22		Kario Oquendo defensive rebound
3:17		Dillon Hunter personal foul (Kario Oquendo draws the foul)
3:17		TV timeout
3:05	+2	Chuck Harris makes two point stepback jump shot	21-24
2:45		Viktor Lakhin misses three point jump shot
2:43		Dillon Hunter offensive rebound
2:33		Matt Cross shooting foul (Ian Schieffelin draws the foul)
2:33		Ian Schieffelin misses regular free throw 1 of 2
2:33	+1	Ian Schieffelin makes regular free throw 2 of 2	21-25
2:10		Viktor Lakhin personal foul (Samet Yiğitoğlu draws the foul)
2:02	+2	Samet Yiğitoğlu makes two point turnaround bank hook shot	23-25
1:43		Keon Ambrose-Hylton shooting foul (Ian Schieffelin draws the foul)
1:43		Ian Schieffelin misses regular free throw 1 of 2
1:43	+1	Ian Schieffelin makes regular free throw 2 of 2	23-26
1:27		Chuck Harris misses three point stepback jump shot
1:25		Keon Ambrose-Hylton offensive rebound
1:20		Kario Oquendo misses three point jump shot
1:18		Tigers defensive rebound
1:18		Samet Yiğitoğlu personal foul (Jaeden Zackery draws the foul)
1:18	+1	Jaeden Zackery makes regular free throw 1 of 2	23-27
1:18	+1	Jaeden Zackery makes regular free throw 2 of 2	23-28
0:51	+2	Keon Ambrose-Hylton makes two point cutting layup (Chuck Harris assists)	25-28
0:45		Tigers 30 second timeout
0:23		Chase Hunter misses three point jump shot
0:21		B.J. Edwards defensive rebound
0:21		Myles Foster personal foul (B.J. Edwards draws the foul)
0:04	+2	Kevin Miller makes two point driving layup	27-28
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
SMU
Mustangs
27
CLEM
Tigers
29

Time		Play	Score
19:50	+2	Chuck Harris makes two point cutting layup (Kevin Miller assists)	29-28
19:23		Samet Yiğitoğlu blocks Jake Heidbreder's two point pullup jump shot
19:21		Chuck Harris defensive rebound
19:12		Viktor Lakhin personal foul (Samet Yiğitoğlu draws the foul)
19:05		Christian Reeves shooting foul (Samet Yiğitoğlu draws the foul)
19:05	+1	Samet Yiğitoğlu makes regular free throw 1 of 2	30-28
19:05	+1	Samet Yiğitoğlu makes regular free throw 2 of 2	31-28
18:53		Jake Heidbreder misses three point jump shot
18:50		Tigers offensive rebound
18:47	+3	Jaeden Zackery makes three point jump shot (Christian Reeves assists)	31-31
18:27	+3	Matt Cross makes three point jump shot (Kevin Miller assists)	34-31
18:04		Ian Schieffelin turnover (bad pass) (Kevin Miller steals)
17:58		Chuck Harris misses three point jump shot
17:53		Mustangs offensive rebound
17:48		Samet Yiğitoğlu misses two point hook shot
17:46		Ian Schieffelin defensive rebound
17:38		Ian Schieffelin misses three point jump shot
17:36		B.J. Edwards defensive rebound
17:17		Kevin Miller turnover (bad pass) (Jake Heidbreder steals)
17:12	+2	Jake Heidbreder makes two point driving layup	34-33
16:49		Ian Schieffelin shooting foul (Matt Cross draws the foul)
16:35		Del Jones shooting foul (B.J. Edwards draws the foul)
16:35	+1	B.J. Edwards makes regular free throw 1 of 2	35-33
16:35		B.J. Edwards misses regular free throw 2 of 2
16:35		Ian Schieffelin defensive rebound
16:18		Chauncey Wiggins misses three point jump shot
16:16		Keon Ambrose-Hylton defensive rebound
16:04	+2	Matt Cross makes two point hook shot (B.J. Edwards assists)	37-33
15:48		Keon Ambrose-Hylton shooting foul (Chase Hunter draws the foul)
15:48		TV timeout
15:48	+1	Chase Hunter makes regular free throw 1 of 2	37-34
15:48		Chase Hunter misses regular free throw 2 of 2
15:48		B.J. Edwards defensive rebound
15:30	+2	Matt Cross makes two point driving layup	39-34
15:10		Ian Schieffelin misses three point jump shot
15:08		Matt Cross defensive rebound
14:50		Matt Cross misses three point jump shot
14:46		Tigers defensive rebound
14:24		Chase Hunter turnover (bad pass)
14:11		Kevin Miller misses two point pullup jump shot
14:07		Christian Reeves defensive rebound
13:59	+2	Del Jones makes two point driving layup	39-36
13:30		Samet Yiğitoğlu turnover (lost ball) (Jaeden Zackery steals)
13:25	+2	Chase Hunter makes two point driving layup	39-38
13:22		Mustangs 30 second timeout
13:22		TV timeout
12:55		Samet Yiğitoğlu misses two point layup
12:55		Samet Yiğitoğlu offensive rebound
12:53		Samet Yiğitoğlu misses two point putback layup
12:50		Chauncey Wiggins defensive rebound
12:40		Samet Yiğitoğlu blocks Del Jones's two point layup
12:38		Kevin Miller defensive rebound
12:30		Kevin Miller misses two point driving floating jump shot
12:28		Tigers defensive rebound
12:27		Jump ball. (Tigers gains possession)
12:15		Jaeden Zackery turnover (lost ball) (Kario Oquendo steals)
12:01		Christian Reeves blocks Chuck Harris's two point jump shot
11:59		Chase Hunter defensive rebound
11:52		TV timeout
11:51	+3	Chase Hunter makes three point jump shot (Del Jones assists)	39-41
11:21		Matt Cross misses two point layup
11:19		Samet Yiğitoğlu offensive rebound
11:19		Samet Yiğitoğlu misses two point tip layup
11:17		Tibet Gorener offensive rebound
11:16	+2	Tibet Gorener makes two point tip layup	41-41
11:01		Matt Cross personal foul (Christian Reeves draws the foul)
10:51		Chase Hunter misses three point pullup jump shot
10:49		Ian Schieffelin offensive rebound
10:46		Samet Yiğitoğlu blocks Ian Schieffelin's two point layup
10:44		Tibet Gorener defensive rebound
10:22	+2	Samet Yiğitoğlu makes two point turnaround hook shot (B.J. Edwards assists)	43-41
10:02	+2	Chase Hunter makes two point stepback jump shot	43-43
9:40	+2	Matt Cross makes two point turnaround hook shot	45-43
9:13		Matt Cross personal foul (Ian Schieffelin draws the foul)
9:06		Jaeden Zackery turnover (lost ball) (B.J. Edwards steals)
8:57		Samet Yiğitoğlu misses two point layup
8:55		Ian Schieffelin defensive rebound
8:48		Del Jones misses two point stepback jump shot
8:46		Keon Ambrose-Hylton defensive rebound
8:39		Viktor Lakhin personal foul (Kevin Miller draws the foul)
8:19	+2	Kevin Miller makes two point driving layup	47-43
8:02		Chase Hunter misses two point layup
8:00		Ian Schieffelin offensive rebound
7:59		Kevin Miller personal foul (Ian Schieffelin draws the foul)
7:59		TV timeout
7:54	+2	Chase Hunter makes two point driving finger roll layup	47-45
7:31		Mustangs 30 second timeout
7:30	+2	Kario Oquendo makes two point cutting layup (Kevin Miller assists)	49-45
7:08	+2	Ian Schieffelin makes two point turnaround hook shot	49-47
7:08		Yohan Traore shooting foul (Ian Schieffelin draws the foul)
7:08	+1	Ian Schieffelin makes regular free throw 1 of 1	49-48
6:45		Kario Oquendo misses three point jump shot
6:43		Ian Schieffelin defensive rebound
6:30		Samet Yiğitoğlu shooting foul (Chase Hunter draws the foul)
6:30	+1	Chase Hunter makes regular free throw 1 of 2	49-49
6:30	+1	Chase Hunter makes regular free throw 2 of 2	49-50
6:16	+2	Kevin Miller makes two point driving layup	51-50
5:57		Chauncey Wiggins misses three point jump shot
5:55		Jaeden Zackery offensive rebound
5:34		Tigers turnover (shot clock violation)
5:31		Official timeout
5:17		Chase Hunter personal foul (Chuck Harris draws the foul)
5:07		Kevin Miller misses two point pullup jump shot
5:05		Chase Hunter defensive rebound
4:51	+2	Viktor Lakhin makes two point hook shot (Jake Heidbreder assists)	51-52
4:18		Keon Ambrose-Hylton turnover (traveling)
4:03		Jake Heidbreder turnover (bad pass) (B.J. Edwards steals)
3:57		Jaeden Zackery personal foul (B.J. Edwards draws the foul)
3:58		TV timeout
3:57		B.J. Edwards misses regular free throw 1 of 1
3:57		Ian Schieffelin defensive rebound
3:37		Jake Heidbreder turnover (lost ball)
3:19		Matt Cross misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot
3:17		Jaeden Zackery defensive rebound
3:00		Samet Yiğitoğlu shooting foul (Ian Schieffelin draws the foul)
3:00	+1	Ian Schieffelin makes regular free throw 1 of 2	51-53
3:00	+1	Ian Schieffelin makes regular free throw 2 of 2	51-54
2:42		Chuck Harris misses three point jump shot
2:40		Ian Schieffelin defensive rebound
2:19		Viktor Lakhin misses three point jump shot
2:17		B.J. Edwards defensive rebound
1:59		Jake Heidbreder shooting foul (B.J. Edwards draws the foul)
1:59	+1	B.J. Edwards makes regular free throw 1 of 2	52-54
1:59		B.J. Edwards misses regular free throw 2 of 2
1:59		Ian Schieffelin defensive rebound
1:46	+2	Chase Hunter makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot	52-56
1:29		Kevin Miller misses two point driving floating jump shot
1:27		Tigers defensive rebound
1:08		Chase Hunter misses three point jump shot
1:06		Jaeden Zackery offensive rebound
0:51		Chase Hunter turnover (bad pass) (B.J. Edwards steals)
0:48		Chase Hunter blocks B.J. Edwards's two point layup
0:46		Matt Cross offensive rebound
0:46		Chase Hunter personal foul (Matt Cross draws the foul)
0:46	+1	Matt Cross makes regular free throw 1 of 2	53-56
0:46	+1	Matt Cross makes regular free throw 2 of 2	54-56
0:20		Chase Hunter misses three point stepback jump shot
0:18		Chuck Harris defensive rebound
0:12		Mustangs 60 second timeout
0:06		Chuck Harris misses three point jump shot
0:03		Tigers defensive rebound
0:03		Tigers 30 second timeout
0:02		Keon Ambrose-Hylton personal foul (Chase Hunter draws the foul)
0:02	+1	Chase Hunter makes regular free throw 1 of 2	54-57
0:02		Chase Hunter misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:02		Matt Cross defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

Matt Cross defensive rebound