Porter’s 2nd Half Surge Lifts Clemson past Louisville, 80-75

The Clemson Tigers (21-8) (11-5) used a second half surge to upset the 24th ranked Louisville Cardinals (20-9) (9-7) by a score of 80-75 to snap a 4-game losing streak and further secure a potential top 4 ACC finish and cement their chances at appearing in the NCAA tournament

The storyline entering tipoff centered on the availability of Louisville freshman leading scorer Mikel Brown, who was not in the starting lineup after reaggravating a back injury Monday night in Chapel Hill. The injury had already cost Brown eight games earlier in the season, and while he was available off the bench, his expected workload remained uncertain.

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Clemson looked to seize that opportunity early, jumping out to a quick 7–2 lead as questions surrounding Brown lingered. Those questions were answered just two minutes into the game when Brown checked in, and Louisville immediately responded. The Cardinals rattled off a 9–0 run, fueled by the Tiger’s focus on Brown that opened the door for Ryan Conwell to knock down two open three-pointers and swing momentum in Louisville’s favor.

Clemson’s offensive approach was clear from the outset. The Tigers consistently worked the ball inside to RJ Godfrey and Carter Welling while emphasizing ball movement, a strategy reflected by their first seven made field goals coming from seven different players. That balance helped Clemson weather Louisville’s surge and settle into the game.

A 6–0 Clemson run, capped by an Ace Buckner layup off a Nick Davidson feed, shifted the pace as the first half transitioned from early runs to a stretch of sloppy, back-and-forth basketball. After starting 4-of-6 from beyond the arc, Louisville went cold from three-point range, finishing the half just 5-of-16 while committing five turnovers as neither team could fully take control.

Godfrey provided a steady presence for the Tigers, repeatedly attacking the basket and getting to the free-throw line. He attempted six free throws in the opening half, converting…

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Publish date : 2026-02-28 22:01:00

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