SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — R.J. Godfrey scored 14 points, Carter Welling made a key free throw and a steal in the final seconds and Clemson beat Syracuse 64-61 in the ACC opener on Wednesday.
Donnie Freeman's fast break layup gave Syracuse a 63-61 lead with 43 seconds left in the game. William Kyle III blocked Dillon Hunter's layup on the next possession, but Clemson grabbed the offensive rebound and Welling was fouled with 14 seconds left.
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Welling made one free throw for a three-point lead, then Freeman missed a 3-pointer for Syracuse. Nathan George recovered the ball for the Orange, but Welling stole the pass and handed the ball to Clemson. Jake Wolin was fouled with less than a second remaining and the Tigers held on for the win.
Freeman had 18 points and nine rebounds and George scored 10 points for Syracuse (9-5, 0-1 ACC).
Hunter scored 10 points for Clemson (11-3, 1-0).
After Clemson led 29-28 at halftime, Butta Johnson's 3-pointer gave the Tigers a 43-33 lead with 13 1/2 minutes left.
Freeman, who missed the last nine games with a lower-body injury, scored his first nine points of the game and the Orange trailed 54-50 after he and Clemson's Hunter traded 3-pointers.
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Hunter hit another 3 for a 57-50 lead with 5 minutes left, and his layup with 3 1/2 minutes left made it 59-50.
The Tigers made 4 of their first 5 shots to take an early 12-3 lead, but Syracuse battled back, eventually taking a 24-23 lead on George's 3-pointer with 6 1/2 minutes left in the half. There were five more lead changes before the end of the half.
Next
Clemson: At Pittsburgh on Saturday.
Syracuse: At Georgia Tech on Tuesday.
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