Tigers fall to Gamecocks

Clemson lost 64-60 to rival South Carolina at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia on Sunday.

BOX SCORE: South Carolina 64 Clemson 60

The Tigers hit just 3-of-15 shots from behind the 3-point line and allowed the Gamecocks to make 6-of-13 from behind the arc.

"We just couldn't keep up offensively," said Clemson head coach Brad Brownell. "Our defense was good enough, but offensively we have to make more shots and finish more plays."

The Tigers fell behind 9-2 before cutting the Gamecock lead to 13-11 on a Catalin Baciu lay-up with 13:25 left in the first half.

South Carolina (6-1) scored five unanswered points before Clemson (5-3) used a 10-2 run to cut the lead to 23-20 with 6:25 left in the first half. South Carolina held the lead for the rest of the game after a Sam Muldrow sent down a dunk with 3:52 left in the half.

Andre Young, who led all scorers with 15, hit a 2-pointer before the final buzzer of the half, which cut the South Carolina lead to 34-31.

Clemson trailed by as many eight points in the second half, before tying the score at 45, thanks to a 3-pointer by Young.

South Carolina then used a 7-1 run to build a 52-46 lead with 7:18 left in the game. Clemson trailed by as little as two points, but never any closer the rest of the way out.

In 38 minutes, Demontez Stitt scored 13 on 5-of-15 shooting from the field. Jerai Grant scored 10 and had a team-high eight rebounds.

For the first-time this season, the Gamecocks were out-rebounded (30-27).

Muldrow, who scored 13, blocked four shots, three more than Clemson had all game.

Three other South Carolina starters scored in double-digits.

The loss snaps Clemson’s six-game winning streak against South Carolina.

"Obviously it was a very competitive game back and forth all night," Brownell said. "I thought both players on both teams really competed and, unfortunately for us, we're having trouble finishing some plays around the rim."

Clemson returns to action next Sunday after having the week off for exams for its 2010-11 ACC opener at Florida State.