Boston College: Shorthanded Eagles Battle Clemson on Saturday

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CLEMSON, S.C. — A shorthanded Boston College squad battled but fell 89-78 to Clemson on Saturday afternoon.

The Eagles entered the afternoon with limited numbers, as Quinten Post, Prince Aligbe, and Armani Mighty missed the game due to illness (stomach flu). BC played the #21/22 Tigers with seven scholarship players available for the game.

BC battled throughout the first half, leading 9-4 early on after a pair of jumpers from Claudell Harris Jr. But a 10-0 run by Clemson gave them the lead for good. A Donald Hand Jr. fast break layup with 4:12 to go made it a two-point game – 31-29 – but the Tigers would close the half on a 15-4 push and led 44-35 at the break.

In the second half, Clemson connected on 12 of its first 15 shot attempts in the second half, building as much as a 19-point lead. BC connected on nearly 61% of its shots over the final 20 minutes and used a 3-pointer from Elijah Strong with under a minute to play to cut the deficit to 11.

Four Eagles tallied double figures, led by Jaeden Zackery’s 18 points. Zackery made 8-of-12 shots (2-4 3FG) to go along with six assists, two steals, and two rebounds. Claudell Harris Jr. scored 17 points, while Mason Madsen and Elijah Strong added 14 points a piece. For Strong, it marked his first collegiate game in double-digits.

As a team. BC connected on 30-of-59 from the floor and 10-of-25 from the outside. The Tigers held a decided advantage at the free throw line, connecting on 18-of-22, compared to 8-of-12 for the Eagles.

Boston College returns to action on Monday, Jan. 15 when it hosts Notre Dame at 7 p.m. at Conte Forum.