The Sports Xchange
Nov 24, 2017
Clemson center Elijah Thomas had 26 points and 16 rebounds and guard Gabe DeVoe scored a career-high 21 points in the Tigers' 84-77 victory over road-weary Texas Southern on Friday at Clemson, S.C.
DeVoe made 8 of 9 shots from the field, including all five of his 3-point attempts. Thomas shot 10 of 11 from the field. Shelton Mitchell and Donte Graham added 10 points.
Clemson (5-1) made 61.2 percent of its shots and outrebounded Texas Southern 37-25.
Texas Southern (0-6) is in the midst of 13 straight road games to start the season. The Tigers lost previously at Gonzaga, Washington State, Ohio State, Syracuse and Kansas.
Demontrae Jefferson led Texas Southern with 22 points, 15 in the second half. Kevin Scott had 14 points and Derrick Bruce had 12 before both fouled out late in the game. Trayvon Reed finished with 10 points and nine rebounds and Donte Clark had 10 points.
Clemson went on an 11-2 run to open a 53-42 lead with 13:58 left in regulation. Thomas and DeVoe each made two baskets in that spurt.
After Clemson took a 17-point lead with 4:27 left, Jefferson answered with 3-pointers on consecutive possessions that cut the lead to 73-62 with 4:02.
Texas Southern cut the lead to 82-77 with 24 seconds left on two free throws by Jefferson. Free throws by Clemson's Scott Spencer and Clyde Trapp secured the win.