PJ Hall scored 27 points in the dominating effort. (Clemson athletics photo)
Clemson men’s basketball scored a school-record 69 points in the first half to dominate Queens on Friday at Littlejohn Coliseum, 109-79.
No. 18-ranked Clemson matched the previous scoring high under head coach Brad Brownell with over five minutes to go, which was 101 in a double OT win over Penn State in 2022, and surpassed it not long after.
Clemson shot 71.1% from the field and knocked down 6-of-9 3-pointers in the first half, with PJ Hall scoring 20 in the session. Hall finished with a game-best 27 points.
RJ Godfrey scored a career-best 19 points, and he was joined in double-figure points by Joseph Girard III (19) and Chauncey Wiggins (13).
“I’m pleased. We had a good week of practice…I thought they had an extremely mature approach,” Brownell said. “We knew we had a big advantage inside. PJ and RJ were terrific around the basket…The first-half barrage, that may be the best half of offense I’ve ever coached with a team in terms of execution and shot-making.”
The Tigers improved to 10-1, while the recent Division I-addition Queens (Charlotte, NC) dropped to 6-8.
Queens began its multi-year transition to Division I last year after being in the Division II South Atlantic Conference previously.
The Clemson single-game scoring best came in 1976 versus Tennessee Tech (133).
Clemson returns to action at home versus Radford to close out the non-conference slate next Friday at home (7 p.m./ACCNX).
“This is a great way to go to Christmas,” Brownell said. “Couldn’t be more proud of our team for the first semester. Just played well versus a very difficult schedule. Got our grades back and had an unbelievable semester academically. Just a great group of young men and really proud of them.”
Some notes:
—Tied for the most 1st half points in Clemson history
—Previous best 1st half total under Brad Brownell was 54Absolute clinic. https://t.co/WMfH1fQICh
— William Qualkinbush (@QualkTalk)
December 23, 2023
Tied a school record with 69 first half points pic.twitter.com/nwtWB0hXLd
— Clemson Basketball (@ClemsonMBB)
December 23, 2023
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