Box Score (.pdf)

Greenville, S.C. – Avry Holmes scored a game-high 20 points to lead the Clemson Tigers to a 76-56 victory over the USC Upstate men's basketball team Wednesday evening in front of 5,528 fans at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.

Upstate falls to 1-8 on the season while Clemson improves to 5-2 overall.

Josh Cuthbertson turned in a team-high 11 points for the Spartans and Michael Buchanan contributed 10 off the bench. Malik Moore added a career-high 10 points and Marvin Smith grabbed six rebounds.

Holmes led three CU players in double-figures as Jaron Blossomgame and Gabe DeVoe both had 11 points. Landry Nnoko finished with a game-high eight rebounds, while Holmes also dished out six assists.

Blossomgame scored six of Clemson's opening eight points as his dunk at the 15:46 mark gave the Tigers an early 8-3 lead. Buchanan got Upstate to within 8-5 just over two minutes later with his layup. Clemson answered with three consecutive three-pointers from Jordan Roper and Ty Hudson to spark a 9-5 run and give the Tigers a 17-10 lead with 10:33 left.

The Spartans kept the margin within seven at the 6:55 mark following a jumper by Cuthbertson to cut their deficit to 23-16. Clemson stretched its lead over Upstate to 32-18 after going on a 9-2 run following the Cuthbertson basket, capped by a three-point play from Holmes. Jacob Schulte halted the run with 4:35 left in the half as his field goal made the score 32-20.

The Tigers finished the half on a 7-2 run to head into the break leading by 17 points. Clemson took its largest lead of the half with 1:49 remaining after Nnoko's layup gave it a 39-20 advantage. Cuthbertson scored the half's final basket with 1:39 left to put the score at 39-22 going into halftime.

The Spartans got as close as 15 to start the second half after Cuthbertson's layup at the 13:39 mark cut the score to 47-32. The Tigers would go ahead 58-37 with 9:46 left following a triple by Holmes. Clemson maintained its lead of at least 20 points the rest of the game.

The Tigers held their largest lead of the game at 76-49 with 2:55 left on a jumper from Josh Smith. Upstate finished the game on an 8-2 run over the final 3:09 to put the final score at 76-56. Ramel Thompkins recorded five of the eight points after coming off the bench including a three with 1:09 left in the contest.

The Spartans concluded the game shooting 42.6% (23-of-54) and Clemson 49.1% (28-of-57). Upstate held a 30-29 advantage in bench points led by the 10 from Buchanan and Moore.

The Spartans wrap up their two-game road trip Friday at 7 p.m. against East Carolina.

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