Clemson Tops American 82-73 Behind Buckner Performance
Ace Buckner scored a career-high 26 points as the Tigers erased an early deficit to secure their second win of the season.
By Martin Reynolds ·
Clemson defeated American 82-73 on Friday night in Littlejohn Coliseum, ending a game that saw seven lead changes in the first half.
The Tigers started the season with a 13-6 hole, falling behind by as many as seven points in the opening frame. They fought back to lead 39-35 at halftime, fueled by strong shooting from multiple players.
Ace Buckner led the scoring with 26 points, his second career-high total in two games. He shot 9-for-14 from the field and 5-for-8 from beyond the arc. Buckner also recorded six assists, setting a new career best. He became the first Clemson guard since the 2004-05 season to score 20 or more points in each of the first two games of a season.
Liutauras Lelevicius recorded his first career double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. He made his first five three-point attempts of the game, tying his career high for made threes. Cole Certa reached 10 points for the 11th consecutive game, extending a streak that began in the previous season. Dylan Faulkner added 12 points, six rebounds, two steals, and a block to round out a team with four players in double figures.
The Tigers extended their lead to 14 points with 2:19 remaining in the fourth quarter. They held that advantage until the final buzzer to improve their record to 2-0. This win marks Clemson's 100th victory since the 2022-23 season. Head Coach Brad Brownell earned his 318th win at Clemson and his 485th career victory.
Clemson also improved to 14-0 all-time against Patriot League opponents and 2-0 against American. Chase Thompson tied his career high with five rebounds and set a new career best with three offensive boards.
The team returns to action on Monday, Nov. 9, when they host North Dakota. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on ACCNX.
