Eleventh-ranked Clemson fell to No. 12 Duke, 66-57, Sunday afternoon in a tough, yet sloppy, game at Littlejohn Coliseum in Clemson.

Both teams had key players out, Clemson without Donte Grantham and Shelton Mitchell and Duke without freshman phenom Marvin Bagley.

While those players and the costly errors the Tigers made will make the headlines, quality play by David Skara and Aamir Simms will largely go unnoticed.

Skara, who is playing in his first year since transferring from Valparaiso, had four rebounds, three assists and six points. He had arguably one of the most important baskets of the game when he made a layup with two minutes to go, completing Clemson’s 10-point comeback and tying the game at 57.

Most of Skara’s contribution was on the defensive side of the ball as he guarded Grayson Allen for most of the game. While Allen scored 19 points, Skara held him to 4-of-10 shooting from the field (nine of his points were from the free throw line) and only two points in the second half.

“I thought Skara’s defense on Grayson Allen was outstanding,” said Clemson head coach Brad Brownell afterward. “When he was on him he did a great job and that’s why I didn’t take him out very much. I just felt like his defense kept us in the game.”

Skara did not have much to say after the game, but did mention that his goal was to stop Duke’s “motor” in Allen.

“We thought he was the motor that gets them going and coach just decided to put me on him,” the redshirt junior said.

Sims, only a true freshman, had a solid game offensively with 10 points, including a three-pointer at the beginning of the game. He provided a big body down low and played a solid 22 minutes, but was out-rebounded by Duke’s bigger forwards.

“I thought Aamir was fine,” said Brownell. “I thought he needed to rebound a little better early. He gave us good, quality minutes, but if you’re gonna play 22 minutes I think you need to get more than three rebounds.”

Other than his rebounding margin, Brownell was pleased with the freshman’s performance and said he will only get better if he focuses on using his size.

“That’s the only thing I was disappointed in him with,” said Brownell. “His eyes got wide there a couple times at the beginning of the game, but once he made a basket he settled down. He just has to worry about physically imposing his will and not on made shots.”

While play from these young players is promising, it’s tough to lose at home with so many costly errors and key injuries, even in such a hard-fought game to one of the best programs in the country.

“I thought our guys really competed throughout the game,” Brownell said. “They did a great job of rebounding, playing defense but we just have to play better basketball.”

Clemson will look to avoid a three-game losing streak when it heads to Virginia Tech this Wednesday.