CHARLOTTE—The dream lives on. Clemson (27-5) defeated SMU (23-10) in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals, 57-54, on March 13. The third-seeded Tigers will face second-seeded Louisville on March 14 at 9:30 p.m., with the victor advancing to the championship game. “It was just hard for both teams to score, but our guys just kind of hung in there,” said head coach Brad Brownell. “It felt like we were simply playing with a piano on our backs, stressed out and not fully enjoying the moment.

Hopefully, this win will help us accomplish that.” Clemson has only made two appearances in the ACC Tournament championship game and has never won. Neither club could establish an offense quickly. At the halfway mark of the first half, both teams shot less than 40%, with no 3-pointers made. Clemson compensated for its lack of offensive performance on defense. Guard Jaeden Zackery’s steals caused 10 SMU turnovers and three shot-clock infractions.

It worked until it didn’t. The majority of the Mustangs’ attempts were disputed, but circus shots began dropping later in the game. They fired 40% from the field. SMU was able to control the paint, which is unusual when facing Ian Schieffelin and Viktor Lakhin. The two bigs combined for 26 points in a win over Dallas on February 22, but they couldn’t replicate that magic in the Tigers’ tournament opener.

The Tigers sought to create shoots elsewhere, but the idea was more appealing than the execution. Clemson went the final six minutes of the first half without scoring a field goal. Instead, Clemson fought for free throws. The Tigers went 17 for 22 from the line. It was a slugfest from beginning to end. The footage showed questionable shot selection, empty possessions, and turnovers. It was up to who could consistently produce high-quality possessions.

Schieffelin scored a much-needed and-1 with seven minutes remaining, giving Clemson a 50-49 advantage. From there, Clemson and its fans rose to the occasion, keeping SMU at bay. Chase Hunter hit a turnaround jumper to take a four-point lead, then converted a free throw in the final seconds. “At the end of the day, honestly, I’m just trying to win,” Schieffelin admitted. “Whether I got to score or dive on a loose ball, I’m gonna do what it takes to win.” The Tigers have established a program record most wins in a season. The 1989-1990 ACC regular-season championship team had 26.

Next game

Clemson plays Louisville at 9:30 p.m. on March 14 in the tournament semifinals.

Clemson plays Louisville at 9:30 p.m. on March 14 in the tournament semifinals.