Tigers Look to Rebound
After losing to the top ranked team on a last-second shot in overtime, Clemson looks to rebound Wednesday night by extending its home winning streak over non-conference opponents to 21 games when it faces Charlotte for the first time in 14 years.
Oddsmakers from Bodog have made Clemson -15 point spread favorites (View College Basketball odds) for today’s game (Game Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 68% of bets for this game have been placed on Clemson -15 (View College Basketball bet percentages).
The 18th-ranked Tigers (12-2) are coming off a 90-88 loss to No. 1 North Carolina on Sunday as Wayne Ellington’s 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds left in overtime decided the ACC matchup. Clemson appeared to have the game in hand, leading by seven points with 2:37 to play in regulation, but the Tar Heels rallied. Despite the loss, the Tigers moved up a spot in the rankings.
"We had the opportunity to knock off the No. 1 team in the country and we didn’t do it," Clemson coach Oliver Purnell said. "We’re close, but we’re not where we need to be yet."
Clemson has won 20 consecutive home games and 37 of the last 38 against non-conference opponents. Its lone loss in that span is a 74-69 defeat to Elon on Dec. 30, 2005. Overall, the Tigers are 12-1 against non-conference teams this season after going 17-0 in the 2006-07 regular season. They lost 85-82 to Mississippi in the championship game of the San Juan Shootout on Dec. 22 for their only defeat.
Clemson is closing out its non-conference schedule looking to for its fourth win in five games over Charlotte (8-5). The teams haven’t met since the Tigers won 67-63 at home on Jan. 8, 1994.
The Tigers hope to continue getting strong play from K.C. Rivers. The junior forward made 9 of 15 shots, including 4-of-7 from 3-point range, to finish with 24 points with six rebounds against North Carolina. He leads the team with 16.6 points and is second with 7.2 boards per game.
Rivers is joined in the frontcourt by Trevor Booker, who is among the conference leaders with 9.3 rebounds per game after grabbing 11 Sunday. The sophomore forward-center added 14 points against North Carolina to increase his scoring average to 9.9.
The 49ers have lost two of three matchups with ACC teams this season and are looking to rebound from one of those defeats, 76-72 to Maryland on Saturday. Charlotte nearly overcame a 21-point deficit with 15:31 to play, but the Terrapins pulled away by making free throws in the final seconds.
The 49ers could use a better effort from Leemire Goldwire, who had his worst shooing performance of the season Saturday, going 3-for-17 from the field – 2-for-12 from 3-point range – for 13 points. The senior guard is fifth in the Atlantic 10 with a career-high 19.0 points per game.
He hopes to continue getting help from junior forward Lamont Mack, who scored a career-high 18 and grabbed six rebounds against Maryland.
The 49ers have lost their last five games against Top 25 opponents since beating then-No. 18 Cincinnati 91-90 on Feb. 5, 2005.
by: Staff Writers – Email Us
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