Alabama A&M @ Clemson preview

Clemson struggled offensively in a season-opening loss to Virginia Tech but has since found its rhythm, winning three games in a row entering Thursday’s home matchup with Alabama A&M. The Tigers got a combined 57 points from Hunter Tyson, Aamir Simms and Tevin Mack in Sunday’s 87-65 home victory over Detroit Mercy, and in the three victories Clemson is averaging 82.3 points after scoring 60 points on 34.4 percent shooting in the season opener.

Mack has provided a go-to option for the Tigers so far in his first season since transferring from Alabama, averaging a team-best 14.8 points while shooting 55.8 percent from the field and scoring 18 points against Detroit Mercy. Tyson, who did not score against Virginia Tech, made 5-of-10 attempts from 3-point range Sunday as the sophomore forward scored a team-high 20 points, and Simms hit 7-of-10 shots to finish with 19 points. “We’ll take that: 20, 19 and 18 points by three different players,” Clemson coach Brad Brownell told the media postgame. “That’s a pretty good day for us.” The Bulldogs have dropped their first four games of the season by an average margin of 27.5 points, including a 79-63 defeat Saturday at Miami (Ohio).

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ACC Network

ABOUT ALABAMA A&M (0-4): Freshman guard Cameron Alford has reached double-digits scoring in his first four games, averaging a team-leading 12.8 points for an offense averaging 58.5 points. Wisconsin-Green Bay transfer forward TJ Parham scored 17 points against Miami and averages 10.8 points, tied with freshman guard Garrett Hicks for second on the team in scoring. Alabama A&M, which already has played at Cincinnati, plays road games next month at Miami (Fla.) and Notre Dame.

ABOUT CLEMSON (3-1): Tyson set career highs in points and made 3-pointers in helping the Tigers finish 11-for-33 from long range against Detroit Mercy. Simms leads Clemson in rebounding at 9.8 and the junior forward has recorded at least eight rebounds in every game, opening the season with 15 against Virginia Tech. Sophomore guard John Newman III ranks second on the team in scoring at 11.8 points after averaging 2.1 points in 34 games last season.

TIP-INS

1. Clemson finished with 20 assists Sunday, the first time it has reached that mark since last season’s opener against The Citadel.

2. After wrapping up a five-game homestand Thursday, the Tigers face TCU on Sunday in the MGM Resorts Main Event in Las Vegas, with a matchup on Tuesday against either No. 25 Colorado or Wyoming.

3. The Tigers shot 14-for-21 from the free-throw line Sunday and on the season are shooting 67.2 percent.

PREDICTION: Clemson 89, Alabama A&M 61