PALO ALTO, Calif. (Interstat) — Clemson held off Stanford for a 66-64 victory in a nonconference men’s basketball game Wednesday night at Maples Pavilion. The Tigers led 30-32 at halftime and maintained a narrow edge throughout the second half. Stanford’s Ebuka Okorie missed a potential tying layup in the final seconds. Aidan Cammann led all scorers with 19 points for Stanford. Nick Davidson scored 16 points for Clemson, which improved to 19-4. Stanford fell to 14-9 despite a more efficient offensive rating and forcing 12 turnovers. Attendance was 3,466.

PALO ALTO, Calif. (Interstat) — In a game defined by grit over grace, the Clemson Tigers escaped Maples Pavilion with a narrow victory over the Stanford Cardinal on Wednesday night, securing a 66-64 win in a nonconference men’s basketball clash that came down to the final possession. The contest, played before an intimate crowd of 3,466, was a stark contrast in styles. Clemson, now 19-4, leveraged its physicality and efficiency at the free-throw line to overcome a sloppy performance, while Stanford, falling to 14-9, relied on defensive pressure and opportunistic scoring but ultimately could not compensate for its own offensive droughts and critical late-game execution errors. The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the final 24 seconds, a frantic conclusion that saw the lead change hands three times. With Stanford clinging to a 62-60 lead, Clemson’s Nick Davidson was fouled on a shot attempt with 23 seconds remaining. The 6-foot-10 forward from Mission Viejo, California, calmly sank both free throws to knot the score. On the ensuing inbound, Stanford’s Ebuka Okorie drove the length of the court and finished a difficult layup with just 4 seconds left, putting the Cardinal back ahead 64-62 and sending the home crowd into a frenzy. Clemson, without a timeout to advance the ball, needed a miracle. They got one from an unlikely source. Inbounding under their own basket, the Tigers found guard Ace Buckner near midcourt. The sophomore from Dallas, Texas, took two dribbles, elevated from just inside the three-point arc and was fouled by Stanford’s Jeremy Dent-Smith on the shot attempt as the horn sounded. The officials reviewed the play and confirmed the foul occurred before time expired, sending Buckner to the line for two shots with 0.0 on the clock and his team trailing by two. With the arena in stunned silence, Buckner, who finished with 11 points, swished the first free throw. After a Stanford timeout intended to ice him, he stepped back to the line and drained the second with equal composure, forcing overtime. Except there would be no overtime. Upon further review, the officials determined Buckner had been fouled in the act of shooting a two-point field goal. According to the rules, because the game was tied after the made free throws and the foul occurred as time expired, the period was over. Clemson’s two points from the line were enough to secure the 66-64 victory, a conclusion that left the Stanford bench and fans in disbelief. The wild finish capped a game where neither team could establish sustained control. Clemson led 30-32 at halftime despite committing eight of its 12 turnovers in the opening period, largely due to Stanford’s aggressive defense that generated 10 steals. The Cardinal, however, shot just 24 of 60 from the field for the game and a frigid 9 of 28 from three-point range, unable to capitalize fully on Clemson’s mistakes. Stanford’s offense was carried by its backcourt. Aidan Cammann, a 6-foot-10 forward from Andover, Massachusetts, provided a versatile inside-out threat, leading all scorers with 19 points while adding two blocks and two steals. Guard Ebuka Okorie from Nashua, New Hampshire, complemented him with 18 points and three assists, his driving layup appearing to be the game-winner before the final foul. Clemson countered with balance and interior dominance. Nick Davidson scored 16 points, including the crucial late free throws, and anchored the paint. RJ Godfrey added 9 points off the bench, and Chase Thompson contributed 10 points. The Tigers, despite being out-assisted 10-3 and out-rebounded on the offensive glass 9-4, won the game at the charity stripe, making 17 of 22 attempts compared to Stanford’s 7 of 9. The Tigers also managed the game’s tempo in key moments, outscoring Stanford 11-6 in fastbreak points and 28-22 in points in the paint, overcoming a Stanford offense that posted a slightly more efficient rating of 104.4 to Clemson’s 102.4. The victory extends Clemson’s strong season momentum as it prepares for a trip to California on Saturday. Stanford, meanwhile, is left to ponder a devastating loss as it regroups to host Georgia Tech this weekend. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, Clemson entered with a 78.80 percent probability to win and was a 4.5-point pregame favorite. The combined score of 130 fell well under the over/under line of 136.5, a testament to the defensive struggle that culminated in one of the more bizarre and dramatic endings of the college basketball season.

Preview: Clemson Tigers at Stanford Cardinal PALO ALTO, Calif. (Interstat) — The surging Clemson Tigers, riding high as one of the nation’s top teams, face a cross-country test against the Stanford Cardinal in a nonconference men’s basketball showcase Wednesday at Maples Pavilion. The Tigers (18-4), representing the Atlantic Coast Conference in this organized matchup, arrive with wins in seven of their last eight games. Their most recent victory was a 63-52 defensive grind against Pittsburgh on Jan. 31. Clemson’s strength lies in its balanced consistency, with guard Dillon Hunter serving as a steadying force. Over his last seven games, Hunter has averaged 8.1 points and 4.4 assists, providing reliable backcourt leadership. Stanford (14-8), navigating a challenging ACC slate in its first season as a conference member, has struggled lately, dropping four of its last five. The Cardinal’s fortunes often hinge on the explosive output of guard Ebuka Okorie. He is averaging 21.3 points per game over his last seven contests, including a 36-point outburst in a win over North Carolina and a 26-point effort in the recent 88-80 loss at Florida State. This game presents a classic clash of styles. Clemson, with its stout defense that held Pittsburgh to 52 points, will aim to control the tempo. Stanford, led by Okorie’s dynamic scoring, will look to push the pace and leverage its home court advantage. The Cardinal’s record at Maples Pavilion this season is 9-2, with notable wins over Louisville and North Carolina. For Clemson, this begins a critical two-game swing through California, with a game at Berkeley looming Saturday. Stanford seeks a season-defining resume win to halt its skid before hosting Georgia Tech this weekend. The key matchup will be on the perimeter, where Hunter’s all-around game for Clemson confronts Okorie’s high-volume scoring for Stanford. The Tigers’ ability to contain Okorie and exploit their interior depth, featuring contributors like RJ Godfrey and Nick Davidson, could prove decisive. Tip-off is set for 9 p.m. EST Wednesday at Maples Pavilion.