GREENVILLE, S.C. (Interstat) — Clemson edged Mercer 70-63 in a men’s basketball game Saturday at Bi-Lo Center. The Tigers improved to 8-3, while the Bears fell to 7-3. Mercer led 39-33 at halftime, but Clemson used a 37-24 second-half advantage to secure the win. The Tigers’ efficiency proved decisive, posting an offensive rating of 110.1 to Mercer’s 97.3. Clemson made 12 of 16 free throws, while Mercer went 5 for 10. Baraka Okojie led all scorers with 20 points for Mercer. Dillon Hunter paced Clemson with 15 points. Attendance was 6,129.

GREENVILLE, S.C. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a suffocating defensive effort and a decisive second-half surge, the Clemson Tigers overcame a sluggish start to defeat the Mercer Bears 70-63 in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday at the Bi-Lo Center. A crowd of 6,129 saw the Tigers, heavy pregame favorites, improve to 8-3 on the season, while Mercer fell to 7-3. The most important part of the game unfolded over the final 12 minutes, as Clemson methodically transformed a narrow contest into a two-possession victory. Leading just 51-49 with 9:18 remaining, the Tigers embarked on a 19-8 run that sealed the outcome. The stretch was emblematic of the entire second half, where Clemson’s defense tightened and its offense found just enough efficiency to create separation. After Mercer’s Zaire Williams hit a 3-pointer to pull the Bears within two, Clemson responded with stifling defense, holding Mercer without a field goal for over five minutes. During that critical span, the Tigers scored nine consecutive points. Jestin Porter sank two free throws, Carter Welling converted a layup off a steal, and after a Williams jumper for Mercer, Zac Foster threw down a dunk and Dillon Hunter drilled a 3-pointer from the wing, pushing the Clemson lead to 60-51 with 8:33 left. Mercer, which had led for much of the first half and trailed by only six at halftime, could not mount a sustained counterattack. The Bears got as close as five points twice in the final two minutes but could not string together the necessary stops and scores. Clemson secured the win at the free-throw line, with Hunter making three crucial foul shots in the final 12 seconds after Mercer had closed to 65-63. The game was a stark contrast in halves. Mercer, fueled by the dynamic play of guard Baraka Okojie, controlled the early tempo. Okojie, a junior from Brampton, Canada, scored 12 of his game-high 20 points before halftime, helping the Bears build a lead that reached nine points. Mercer shot 48% from the field in the first half and took a 39-33 lead into the break. Clemson’s offense, however, was out of sync, committing nine first-half turnovers and shooting just 2-for-10 from 3-point range. The Tigers’ saving grace was a balanced scoring effort, with Nick Davidson scoring 10 of his 12 points before halftime to keep the deficit manageable. The second half belonged to Clemson’s defense and its backcourt. The Tigers held Mercer to 24 points on 10-of-30 shooting after halftime, including a frigid 2-for-12 from beyond the arc. Clemson also forced eight second-half turnovers, converting them into 11 points. Hunter, a sophomore from Atlanta, led the Tigers with 15 points, 12 of which came in the second half. His backcourt mate, Porter from Houston, added 10 points, while Davidson finished with 12 points and a game-high seven rebounds. RJ Godfrey of Suwanee, Georgia, provided a key all-around performance with nine points, seven rebounds, three steals and two assists. For Mercer, Okojie’s 20 points and five assists were not enough to offset a poor team shooting afternoon from distance and the free-throw line. The Bears made only 6 of 22 3-point attempts and were an uncharacteristic 5-for-10 from the foul line. Williams, a sophomore from Brooklyn, New York, added 15 points, and center Armani Mighty of Toronto contributed 10 points and two blocks. Clemson won despite an unremarkable shooting performance overall, making 25 of 54 field goals. The Tigers were more effective from deep, hitting 8 of 26, and more proficient at the line, making 12 of 16 free throws. They also won the battle on the glass, securing seven offensive rebounds to Mercer’s three, which led to a 12-4 advantage in second-chance points. The victory gives Clemson momentum heading into a pivotal rivalry game against South Carolina on Tuesday. Mercer, which saw a four-game winning streak snapped, will look to regroup on the road at UCF on Wednesday.

GREENVILLE, S.C. (Interstat) — Two teams riding winning streaks will clash when the Mercer Bears visit the Clemson Tigers in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday at the Bi-Lo Center. Mercer (7-2) enters on a five-game winning streak, most recently routing Oglethorpe 100-50 on Dec. 7. The Bears’ offense has been potent during the run, averaging 87.8 points per game. Guard Kyle Cuffe has been a key contributor, coming off a 13-point, three-assist performance against Oglethorpe. He scored a season-high 17 points in a loss to Winthrop on Nov. 15. Clemson (7-3) looks to rebound from a narrow 67-64 road loss at BYU on Tuesday, which snapped a three-game win streak. The Tigers have played a challenging schedule, with their losses coming against BYU, Alabama and Georgetown by a combined 18 points. Guard Jestin Porter has been a consistent scorer, leading the team with 17 points in the loss at BYU and posting 18 points in an overtime win at Georgia on Nov. 23. The Bears have balanced scoring, with Bendji Pierre adding 17 points in the win over Oglethorpe. Clemson counters with forward RJ Godfrey, who had 13 points against BYU, and the backcourt duo of Porter and Dillon Hunter. Mercer’s last road test against a high-major opponent resulted in a 76-61 loss at Tennessee to open the season. Clemson is 4-0 at neutral-site and home games in South Carolina this season, including a win over West Virginia at the Bi-Lo Center. After this matchup, Mercer travels to face UCF on Dec. 17. Clemson continues its homestand, hosting rival South Carolina on Dec. 16. Tipoff is scheduled for Saturday afternoon.