CLEMSON – Hunter Tyson made a 3-pointer with 10 seconds left Saturday night at No. 19 Clemson pulled out a 51-50 win against Virginia Tech at Littlejohn Coliseum.
Tyson faked the three from the top of the key, dodged a defender sailing past, and then swished it.
Clemson, with the victory, stays all alone in first place in the ACC. The Tigers (16-4, 8-1) kept a one-game lead on Virginia. The Cavaliers (15-3, 7-2) took a 76-67 victory Saturday against Wake Forest. Seven ACC teams have now three losses.
PJ Hall had his third straight 20-point game. His spin move at the basket got Clemson within 49-48 with 40 seconds left.
Clemson made the top 25 this week for the first time in two years. The Tigers are No. 19 in the USA TODAY coaches’ poll and by the Associated Press.
Clemson had a 22-16 lead but finished the first half by going 0-for-8 and trailed at the break, 31-26. Hall had 10 points, Hunter Tyson seven.
Clemson next plays at 9 p.m. Tuesday at home against Georgia Tech (8-11, 1-8). The Yellow Jackets dropped their fifth straight Saturday, 80-63, at home against Syracuse.
SCOUTING REPORT:Clemson basketball vs. Virginia Tech: Score prediction after Tigers’ first ACC loss
TOP 25 TEAM:Clemson basketball joins Top 25, nationally ranked for first time in two years
PREVIOUS GAME:Clemson basketball falls to Wake Forest one day after breaking into national rankings
Clemson basketball was missing two starting guards
The Tigers played without junior point guard Chase Hunter for the second straight game and senior guard Alex Hemenway for the eighth straight game.
Hunter leads Clemson with 77 assists and ranks second in scoring with 14.0 points per game. He suffered a recurring foot injury two games ago against Duke, when he played 28 minutes but scored just five points. Hemenway hasn’t played since Dec. 17, also because of a foot injury (plantar fasciitis). He was the Tigers’ best 3-point shooter, making 50% (27-for-54).
Todd Shanesy covers Clemson athletics for the USA TODAY Network.