Notre Dame won the game in large part because of a 23-3 edge in second-chance points, including 17-1 in the second half.UP NEXTTCU: Th | Forum
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Sep 5 '19
CLEMSON, S. Colton Sceviour Jersey .C. -- Donte Grantham knows too well Clemsons bad reputation for early season stumbles. Hes glad he and his teammates are getting the chance to quash that with their strong play.The Tigers (6-2) did it again Saturday, blowing past Mercer 90-47 to win their fourth straight and second in a row by 40 points or more.Grantham scored 19 points off four 3-pointers.We just wanted to come out here and make a statement that were a good team, said Grantham, the 6-foot-8 junior. We believe that, but we have to showcase that.It was fully on display against the Bears (5-5), who have lost four of five since opening 4-1.Grantham had two 3-pointers and a 3-point play as the Tigers led 18-11. He closed the first half with a 3 that put Clemson ahead 49-25 and Mercer could not dent the lead.The Bears settled for too many outside shots -- 14 of 23 first-half attempts were from behind the arc -- instead of going strong against Clemsons defense, Mercer coach Bob Hoffman said.You cant win that way and thats not how were going to win, he said.Jaron Blossomgame had 16 points as the Tigers had five players finish in double figures. Grantham also added six rebounds, two assists and block and a steal.Its the first time Clemson has won consecutive games by at least 40 points since the start of the 2009-10 season when it beat Presbyterian by 43 points and Liberty by 40 next time out.Rian Holland had 12 points to lead the Bears, who have lost four of their past five games after opening 4-1.BIG PICTUREMercer: The Bears saw their run of ACC wins end at three, losing to an ACC opponent for the first time since an 87-78 defeat to Georgia Tech in the 2010-11 season. Mercer made a huge splash in their previous ACC matchup, topping third-seeded Duke in the 2014 NCAA Tournament. Then again, no members of that team remain with the program. Holland, the Bears top scorer, is in his first season at Mercer after two seasons at Wichita State and a year at Indian Hills Community College.Clemson: The Tigers took care of another typically troublesome early season opponent in fast fashion, a strong sign for what they might achieve. Clemson hasnt been to the NCAA Tournament since coach Brad Brownells first season in 2010-11, a huge reason because of pre-ACC season losses. The Tigers won 10 ACC games last season, yet only seven against nonleague opponents as they missed the postseason.We needed to play well during this time and we have so far, Brownell said.HEISMAN WATCHClemson quarterback Deshaun Watsons try for the Heisman Trophy later Saturday came up several times during the basketball game. Watsons image flashed on the big scoreboard screen several times and Grantham said hed be watching and rooting for his fellow Tiger.He should get it if theyre giving it to winners, Clemson coach Brad Brownell said.BAD BEARSMercer struggled driving the ball against Clemson, ending with just seven foul shots. The Bears committed 18 turnovers and were called for 25 fouls.ROSTER HELPClemson is getting closer to adding Texas A&M transfer, 6-foot-9 Elijah Thomas, to the lineup. Brownell said Thomas, who sat out since last winter, would be eligible to play for the Tigers at Alabama on Dec. 18. Hell be a boost to a front line with only 6-10 starter Sidy Djitte and backup, 7-footer Legend Robertin available.UP NEXTMercer: Gets a week off before playing at Auburn on Dec. 18.Clemson: Will face South Carolina State on Tuesday night.---More AP college basketball at http://collegebasketball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 Keith Yandle Panthers Jersey .com) - Christian Ponder will get another chance to prove himself for the Minnesota Vikings, with head coach Leslie Frazier announcing Wednesday that the struggling quarterback will start this weekends game against the Green Bay Packers. MacKenzie Weegar Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. http:///...kblad-hockey-jersey/ . It just didnt show when he hit the ice. Berra made 42 saves and Kris Russell scored at 1:32 of overtime, lifting the Calgary Flames to a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday night. SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Top-ranked Notre Dame pulled away from TCU 92-59 on Saturday to stay unbeaten. It wasnt easy.The Irish led by just three at halftime but used strong defense and the return of inside presence Brianna Turner from foul trouble to stretch its lead.Arike Ogunbowale scored 19 points and the Irish used a decisive third quarter to put away the pesky Horned Frogs. Leading 49-47 midway through the quarter, Notre Dame finished the period on a 17-3 run to take control. TCU, which shot 13 of 24 (54 percent) in the first half, went the final 5:24 of the quarter without a basket, 0-8 from the field in that span. The Irish (6-0) took a 66-50 lead into the fourth quarter and continued to pull away.I thought our defense in the second half was much better than in the first, Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw said.There was that point toward the end of the third quarter where we just stopped really working it and trusting that we can work for a better shot, TCU coach Raegan Pebley said.Turner, Notre Dames third-leading scorer, played only four minutes and scored just two points in the first half because of foul trouble. The Horned Frogs matched the Irish with 16 points in the paint in the opening half. Turner finished with 18 points, hitting 7 of 10 from the field as the Irish used Turners inside presence to outscore the Horned Frogs 20-10 in the paint in the second half.I thought Bri made a huge difference when she was back in the game, McGraw said.Ogunbowale hit 5 of 6 3-pointers and tied for the team high with seven rebounds. AJ Alix topped the Horned Frogs (4-1) with 16 points.Notre Dame built a 22-15 fiirst-quarter lead before the Horned Frogs inched closer. Evgenii Dadonov Panthers Jersey. TCU had a chance to take a lead in the first half, but its possession was wiped out by an offensive foul and the Irish took a 37-34 lead to the locker room.The Horned Frogs finished 21 of 48 (44 percent), while Notre Dame hit 33 of 71 (46 percent).They came out fired up, McGraw said. I think were going to get everybodys best shot.BIG PICTURETCU: The Horned Frogs took their first loss after starting 4-0 for the first time since 2008. TCU dropped to 0-10 all-time against No. 1-ranked teams.NOTRE DAME: Hot starts are nothing new to the Irish. Notre Dame started 7-0 last season before falling to UConn and began the previous campaign 8-0 before losing to the Huskies. In 2013-14, Notre Dame went 37-0 before losing to UConn in the national championship game.POLL IMPLICATIONSNOTRE DAME: The Irish look to hold on to the top spot after again winning by double digits.TCU: The unranked Horned Frogs, despite losing by a wide margin, played well and could find themselves in the rankings before the season ends.STAT OF THE NIGHT: Notre Dame won the game in large part because of a 23-3 edge in second-chance points, including 17-1 in the second half.UP NEXTTCU: The Horned Frogs play their second straight against a team from Indiana when they host Butler on Wednesday. It begins a stretch of six home games over a seven-game span.NOTRE DAME: The Irish travel to Iowa to face the Hawkeyes on Wednesday in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. ' ' '
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