Jared McCain Propels Duke to Thrilling Victory Over Clemson in ACC Clash

Blue Devils Rally from Behind for Hard-Fought Win

Durham, NC – In a pulsating contest that kept the Cameron Indoor Stadium crowd on the edge of their seats, the 12th-ranked Duke Blue Devils emerged victorious over the Clemson Tigers, 72-71, on Saturday afternoon. The Blue Devils rallied from a four-point deficit in the final minutes to secure their second win of the season against their ACC rivals.

A Tale of Two Halves

The first half was a see-saw affair, with both teams trading baskets and neither able to establish a significant lead. Duke took an early 10-5 advantage, but Clemson responded with a trio of three-pointers to seize a 10-point lead midway through the half.

However, the Blue Devils answered back with a surge of their own, sparked by the shooting prowess of freshman guard Jared McCain and Australian point guard Tyrese Proctor. McCain drained three consecutive three-pointers in a span of just over three minutes, while Proctor added another from downtown to give Duke a 29-20 lead.

Hall’s Absence Felt by Clemson

Clemson’s struggles were compounded by the uncharacteristically poor performance of their star center, PJ Hall. The 6-foot-10 South Carolina native, who leads the Tigers in scoring, blocks, and steals, was held to just seven points in the first half, shooting a dismal 2-for-6 from the field.

Duke’s defense, led by center Kyle Filipowski, effectively neutralized Hall’s presence in the paint, limiting his impact on the game.

Second Half Comeback

Clemson regrouped in the second half, with Hall finding his rhythm and leading the Tigers on a 13-0 run to regain the lead. The Blue Devils, however, showed resilience and determination, refusing to let the game slip away.

Proctor continued to shine, scoring 18 points and hitting several clutch shots down the stretch. McCain also played a pivotal role, tallying 21 points, including nine from beyond the arc.

Final Minutes Drama

With just over two minutes remaining, Clemson held a four-point lead and seemed poised to pull off the upset. However, McCain came up with a crucial steal and converted a layup to cut the deficit to two.

After a Clemson turnover, Duke had a chance to tie the game, but Filipowski’s layup attempt was blocked. However, the Blue Devils retained possession, and Filipowski was fouled, sending him to the free-throw line.

Filipowski calmly sank both free throws, tying the game at 71-71 with just 15 seconds left on the clock.

Proctor Seals the Win

Clemson had one final opportunity to win the game, but Hall’s driving layup was blocked by Filipowski, who fouled out on the play. Hall stepped up to the free-throw line and made the first shot, but missed the second.

Duke then fouled Tyrese Proctor, who coolly sank both free throws to give the Blue Devils a one-point lead with just seven seconds remaining.

Clemson’s desperation heave at the buzzer fell short, sealing Duke’s thrilling victory.

Key Takeaways

• Jared McCain’s emergence as a go-to scorer for Duke is a major boost to the team’s offensive firepower. The freshman guard’s ability to create his own shot and knock down threes makes him a dangerous threat.
• Tyrese Proctor’s steady play and clutch shooting were instrumental in Duke’s comeback. The Australian point guard’s poise and composure under pressure were evident throughout the game.
• The absence of Mitchell and Roach due to injuries has been a challenge for Duke, but the team has shown resilience and depth in their absence. McCain, Proctor, and Filipowski have stepped up and filled the void admirably.
• Clemson’s inability to contain Duke’s three-point shooting proved costly. The Blue Devils knocked down 11 three-pointers, including several key shots in the second half.

Looking Ahead

With the victory, Duke improves to 15-4 overall and 6-2 in the ACC. The Blue Devils will now embark on a two-game road trip, facing Virginia Tech on Monday and archrival North Carolina on Saturday.

Clemson, meanwhile, falls to 13-6 overall and 3-5 in the ACC. The Tigers will look to bounce back when they host Florida State on Tuesday.