Basketball
FAULKNER SCORES 21, HITS BUZZER-BEATER AS CLEMSON BEATS UGA 82-80 IN FIRST EXHIBITION
- 2026-10-24 10:44:22
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CLEMSON, SC - What a way to start the season! Basketball keeps starting earlier and earlier, and now we have Power Four exhibition games in October, which is a great thing. It could not have been more beneficial for the Tigers; they not only came away with a win over rival Georgia, but they were tested early and developed some good cohesion with several new additions to the team.
Samford transfer Dylan Faulkner had a dream debut as a Tiger! Not only did his buzzer-beater win the game, but he finished with 21 points in just 26 minutes. He scored 15 with 5 rebounds in just 11 minutes in the first half! He was also 11-13 at the free throw line. He shot just 56 percent at the stripe last season, and I asked him about that improvement after the game. He said that was the thing that he was most proud of last night because he worked so hard at it in the offseason. Faulkner is from Calhoun, GA, and grew up rooting for the Bulldogs, so it was a storybook debut for him as a Tiger!
Dallas Thomas also had a great game with 18 points and some big buckets down the stretch, and Notre Dame transfer Cole Certa added 14. Sophomore Chase Thompson also had a solid game, and 4-star true freshman Harris Reynolds got some valuable game experience right off the bat against a good team.
The Tigers, of course, were without two would-be starters. Center Carter Welling and guard Zac Thomas are both still rehabbing their ACL injuries from last season. Also, guard Dillon Hunter is still waiting to find out if he will be granted another season of eligibility. Even without those key players, the Tigers only trailed for 40 seconds in the first 2 minutes of the game! Georgia tied the game at 80 on a second-chance 3-pointer with less than 10 seconds left, and Faulkner rebounded his own miss to put in the game-winner at the buzzer.
The Tigers have another free home exhibition against Presbyterian next week and then open the season at home against Stetson. Post-game interviews are below!
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