Clemson University rallies after halftime, but Duke Blue Devils hold the paint edge at Spectrum Center

Clemson University arrived at 22-11, and the Duke Blue Devils entered at 29-3, and Duke took a 73-61 result in Charlotte. The Clemson Tigers vs Duke Blue Devils final score reflected Duke’s 41-22 first-half gap and Clemson’s 39-32 second-half response at 9:30 PM EDT on ESPN2.

First half

Clemson opened with 22 points in the first half while shooting 33 percent from the field and 28 percent from 3-point range on 25 attempts. Duke put up 41 first-half points while hitting 46 percent overall and 38 percent from deep, and the Blue Devils built a biggest lead of 20. Clemson forced 6 Duke turnovers while turning it over 6 times, and the Tigers kept pace at the line by making 18 free throws on 78 percent. Duke controlled the glass with 41 rebounds to Clemson’s 27, and that margin fed 12 second-chance points for the Devils.

Second half

Clemson scored 39 after halftime behind 20 bench points and 9 fast-break points, and the Tigers also produced 17 points off turnovers. Duke scored 32 in the second half, and the Blue Devils stayed steady inside with 24 points in the paint on 52 percent finishing in paint attempts. Clemson’s interior work accounted for 20 points in the paint, and 11 second-chance points helped keep the Tigers within reach as lead changes reached 7. Duke’s 18 made free throws on 82 percent kept the margin intact, and Clemson’s 10 assists supported a 1.67 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Game notes and fan takeaway

Clemson logged 7 steals and 3 blocks, and Duke finished with 4 steals and 1 block in a game attended by 17,711 at Spectrum Center. From the previous outing, RJ Godfrey’s 18 points and 6 rebounds set a recent production marker for Clemson’s front line, and Jestin Porter’s 12 points showed up as a perimeter reference point in this post-game report Clemson Tigers. The game-changing plays Clemson Tigers vs Duke Blue Devils centered on Duke’s rebounding advantage and paint scoring, while Clemson’s 17 points off turnovers and second-half 39-point burst shaped the Clemson Tigers match rating.

Catch the next Clemson broadcast window when it hits the schedule, then drop your take on the Tigers’ second-half push and share this article.