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Mustangs (23-9) and Tigers (26-5) tip off at 8:30 (Central time) in a game that can be seen on ESPN2.

In the first meeting (February 22) between the teams, the Tigers knocked off the Mustangs — who were without point guard Boopie Miller — 79-69 at Moody Coliseum.



From SMUMustangs.com:

SMU Falls To No. 18 Clemson

DALLAS (AP) -- Jaeden Zackery had 19 points, including a career-best five 3-pointers before halftime, plus six rebounds, seven assists and five steals to help No. 18 Clemson beat SMU 79-69 Saturday.

Chase Hunter added 17 points and Viktor Lakhin had 16 for the Tigers (22-5, 14-2 Atlantic Coast Conference), who are tied for second with Louisville and one-game behind Duke.

Chuck Harris scored 16 points, and Matt Cross and B.J. Edwards had 12 each for the Mustangs (20-7, 11-5).

Clemson ended the first half on a 7-2 run after SMU took its only lead of the game at 30-29, then scored the first nine points of the second half. The Tigers' largest lead was 18 points.

The Tigers tied a program record for conference wins set two years ago. They can match or surpass their highest poll position this season, which was No. 16 in mid-December.

Boopie Miller, who leads the team averaging 13.4 points and 5.7 assists per game, missed his third consecutive game with a bruised left foot. A win could have vaulted the Mustangs into the Top 25 for the first time since the 2016-17 season.

Zackery's mid-range miss at the 24-second buzzer early in the second half was rebounded by Lakhin. That led to Hunter's 3-pointer amid the 9-0 run opening the second half. Clemson, 61st in Division I averaging nine 3-pointers per game, matched that total with 6:17 left in the half. The Tigers hit 14, matching their season high, on 29 shots.

First time around:

Clemson starters
G 1 Chase Hunter
G 2 Dillon Hunter
G 11 Jaeden Zackery
F 0 Viktor Lakhin
F 4 Ian Schieffelin

SMU starters
G 0 B.J. Edwards
G 2 Boopie Miller
G 3 Chuck Harris
F 33 Matt Cross
C 24 Samet Yiğitoğlu

Schieffelin posts up Cross to start the scoring, then rebounds Miller's missed floater.

Yiğitoğlu gets his first foul when he plants Chase Hunter on his way to the rim.

Hunter hits 1 of 2 FTs

3-0 Tigers

Zackery scores on a backdoor cut to make it 5-2

Traore with nice up-and-under reverse to make it 7-4

Yes, it's early, but the shooting is tilted toward the Tigers

Clemson: 67% (4/6)
SMU: 33$ (2/6)

Rebounds

Clemson 4
SMU 1

Zackary was great against us last time.
Can't let him get got again

Yiğitoğlu on the board with a dunk off a pass from Cross
9-6

Viktor Lakhin is 6-11, but the Tigers are relying on Ian Schieffelin (6-8) down low, meaning Yiğitoğlu has to chase Lakhin, who is shooting .383 this season from 3-point range, on the perimeter.

Tigers have missed last four field goals, lead 10-6

Harris hits a pair to narrow the gap to 10-8