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3/14/2007 - MEN'S BASKETBALL
Pigram Nets 25 Points in ETSU Upset Bid at Clemson
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CLEMSON, S.C. – Sophomore guard Courtney Pigram scored a game-high 25 points and senior Brad Nuckles eclipsed the 1,000-point plateau for his career, but the Clemson Tigers used a dominating performance on the glass to drop ETSU 64-57 and survive a first round match up with the Buccaneers in the National Invitation Tournament Wednesday evening inside Littlejohn Coliseum.
Despite being held to just 38 percent shooting by the ETSU defense, Clemson out-rebounded the Bucs 51-32 – 19-6 on the offensive end of the floor – to overcome a 49-48 deficit late in the game and hold on for the win. With the victory, Clemson (22-10) advances to the second round of the NIT where it will face the winner of Appalachian State/Ole Miss. Meanwhile, the Bucs (24-10) watched their season come to a close after winning a regular season Atlantic Sun Conference championship and making postseason play for the third time in five seasons.
“They were just too strong and athletic for us on the inside, and playing on the road at an ACC school was too much to overcome,” said ETSU head coach Murry Bartow. “I’m proud of our effort, though, because we really battled and we had a chance at the end. We didn’t execute very well on offense at the end of the game, but that was still a good showing for us. This team has won 24 games and a championship this year. We hate that the season ended, but we’ve had a great year.”
