Eastern Kentucky University’s men’s basketball team will take on Clemson University on Tuesday at Littlejohn Coliseum in Clemson, South Carolina. The game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on the ACC Network. A live radio broadcast will also be available in the Richmond area on WCYO 100.7 FM, or globally on EKUSports.com.
The Colonels:
- EKU (2-0) enters the game following an 82-78 road victory over East Tennessee State in the ASUN/SoCon Challenge. ETSU was considered one of the preseason favorites in the Southern Conference.
- Fifth-year senior Devontae Blanton led the Colonels with a well-rounded performance against ETSU, scoring 20 points, dishing out seven assists, grabbing five rebounds, and recording two steals and one block. He made 8-of-17 field goals in the win.
- A pair of transfers from the College of Charleston also made significant contributions. Guard Jordan Crawford shot 5-of-7 from beyond the arc and 6-of-10 overall, finishing with 17 points off the bench. Forward Mayar Wol made his first start and added 10 points, seven rebounds, and two steals.
- EKU’s defense saw significant improvement in game two, recording seven blocks after only one in the season opener. Yvens Paul led the charge with four blocks, while Montavious Myrick and Blanton each added one.
Scouting the Opponent:
- Clemson (2-0) is coming off a dominant start to the season, defeating Charleston Southern 91-64 and Saint Francis 88-62. The Tigers finished 24-12 last season and advanced to the Elite 8 in the NCAA Tournament, winning three games.
- Chase Hunter, a 6-foot-5 guard in his sixth season at Clemson, leads the Tigers in scoring with 15 points per game.
- Ian Schieffelin, a 6-foot-8 senior forward, is averaging 12 points, a team-high 11 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game. He was named All-ACC Honorable Mention last season.
- Seven players for Clemson are averaging 8.5 points or more per game, and as a team, the Tigers are shooting 54 percent from the field.
Inside the Match-up:
- Both teams are averaging 90 points per game early in the season.
- EKU’s defense has limited opponents to 26 percent shooting from beyond the arc (10-for-39), while Clemson has been highly efficient, hitting 48 percent (23-for-48) of its 3-point attempts.
Inside the Series:
- EKU and Clemson have never met before. The last time the Colonels played in South Carolina, they secured a 95-78 victory over South Carolina-Upstate on Dec. 2, 2020, in Spartanburg.
- Clemson is the first of three ACC teams EKU will face this season. The Colonels will also play at Pittsburgh on Dec. 11 and at Louisville on Dec. 28.
