Pittsburgh @ Clemson preview

Pittsburgh at Clemson

Last Meeting ( Feb 8, 2018 ) Pittsburgh 48, Clemson 72

Two teams looking to reverse their recent slides square off Tuesday, when Clemson hosts Pittsburgh in an ACC matchup. The Tigers have won each of the last four meetings in the all-time series.

Clemson has lost two straight overall contests and five of its last six, including a crushing 69-67 defeat at No. 22 North Carolina State on Saturday in which the host hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to hold off a late surge. The Tigers will try to put that game behind them quickly after twice squandering six-point leads in the final minute. The Panthers made a splash with home wins over Louisville and Florida State early in the ACC slate, but they’ve dropped three in a row and are coming off a 66-51 setback at Louisville on Saturday. Pitt has lost 18 consecutive road games, including 15 straight in conference play.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPNU

ABOUT PITTSBURGH (12-8, 2-5 ACC): The Panthers are in full rebuilding mode in coach Jeff Capel’s first season, as four of their top five scorers are newcomers to the program. A trio of freshmen - Xavier Johnson (16.2 points, 4.4 assists), Trey McGowens (13.6 points) and Au’diese Toney (9.4, six rebounds) -accounts for 52.7 percent of the team’s scoring output. Three-point specialist Jared Wilson-Frame (11.4 points) also averages double digits, but the Panthers’ strength is at the defensive end - they hold opponents to 39.1 percent shooting overall and 29.1 percent from 3-point range.

ABOUT CLEMSON (11-8, 1-5): The Tigers have been solid defensively for most of the season, but their offensive output has dropped off considerably in ACC play. Marcquise Reed (19.3 points, 5.6 rebounds) still is putting up big numbers in conference games, but he missed four straight free throws down the stretch against N.C. State. Elijah Thomas (13.5 points, 7.8 rebounds) has matched his overall numbers in league play, but Shelton Mitchell (11.5 points) has been ice cold, shooting just 26.9 percent overall - including 2-for-19 from beyond the arc.

TIP-INS

1. Reed is the only player in the nation averaging at least 19 points, 5.5 rebounds, three assists and two steals.

2. Pittsburgh forces 16.2 turnovers per game - third-most in the ACC - and averages 19.9 points off turnovers.

3. Johnson and McGowens have combined to go 184-for-230 from the foul line, with the former leading the ACC in made free throws (93) and the latter ranking second (91).

PREDICTION: Clemson 69, Pittsburgh 67