CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — PJ Hall scored a career-high 29 points and Clemson hit 11 of 29 from beyond the 3-point arc to get past hot-shooting Alcorn State 90-69 on Friday night.
The Tigers’ 6-foot-10 center came into the game averaging more than 19 points per game after scoring at least 14 points in all five games. Hall was 11 of 18 from the field, including 2 of 5 from distance, and 5 of 6 from the line while grabbing nine rebounds and dishing four assists.
Alex Hemenway hit from 3 with nine minutes left in the first half to give Clemson (5-0) a 28-18 lead and the Tigers took a 48-37 lead into the break. Chase Hunter turned in a three-point play and Hall knocked down a 3 to open the second half and extend the lead to 54-37.
Hunter finished with 18 points and Joe Girard, a senior transfer from Syracuse, added 13 with four rebounds and four assists.
Alcorn State shot 50% from the field, the highest percentage allowed by Clemson through five games, and all five starters scored in double figures. The Braves knocked down 26 of 52 shots but were just 5 of 14 from distance. Jeremiah Gambrell led the Braves with 17 points. Jalyke Gaines-Wyatt had 13, Djahi Binet and Dekedran Thorn each added 12 and Jeremiah Kendall chipped in 10 points.
Clemson plays at No. 17 Alabama on Tuesday. Alcorn State (1-7), which plays 15 of its first 16 games on the road, travels to face VCU December 10.
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