Basketball
CLEMSON HAS GAME 'STOLEN' WITH ONE SECOND LEFT IN 72-71 LOSS AT NO.12 DUKE
- 2024-01-28 13:15:55
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DURHAM, NC - Well, the refs did it to the Tigers in Cameron again. I can't count how many times I've seen this movie before. Any time the Tigers have a one-possession game here, the refs are going to see to it that Duke wins. The Tigers could have denied the refs the opportunity with a 4-point lead late, but 3 consecutive turnovers cost them, including a fast-break layup. Duke's only other field goal in the last 6:18 was a 3-point play by Filipowski. The Devils scored 9 of their last 13 points at the free throw line, and the call that gave them the game was horrible and late. Proctor clearly extended his arm to gain separation before the shot, and at any other venue or at any other time in the game, that's an offensive foul. Beadle made absolutely no contact from what I saw, and yet they put Duke on the line for the win. And, of course, no call when Hall was tackled at the other end on the Hail Mary! Brownell alluded to the poor officiating as much as he could after the game without getting fined by the ACC. He made it abundantly clear that he thought the refs stole the game from them. And it wasn't just at the end, either. I saw several blatant fouls on Duke that weren't called throughout the game.
The Tigers have had the lead with 3 seconds left in regulation in each of their last two losses! This one stings as much as the Tech game a week and a half ago, but the bright side is that this Clemson team is much better than its record, and its record is pretty good. Clemson is a top 15 team in my opinion and getting healthier, folks. Hemenway is finally practicing again and was cleared by the doctors to play today, even though he didn't, and Clark is back. You have to love the heart they showed today, battling back from a 12-point deficit in the toughest place to play in America against the No.12 team, and to have a 4-point lead in the final 2 minutes. I have to believe they will right the ship! They should get right at home in Littlejohn against struggling Louisville on Tuesday.
My post-game interviews and highlights are below!
MORE CLEMSON BASKETBALL AND FOOTBALL COVERAGE HERE
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