Though leading scorer Chase Hunter had a rough day in Tallahassee, Fla., No. 23 Clemson played just fine. The Tigers led from start to finish in beating Florida State for a record six straight time, 72-46, Saturday at the Donald L. Tucker Center.

The 26-point victory over the Seminoles is the Tigers’ third largest margin of victory in an ACC road game in school history and the largest under head coach Brad Brownell. The Seminoles’ 46 points were the fewest against Clemson since the Tigers held them to 44 points in the 2010-’11 season.

Clemson (21-5, 13-2 ACC) won its 11th ACC game this year by 10 points or more. It adds to its own school record for ACC wins in a season by double digits (2022-23, 9).

Nine of the 11 wins have been by 10 or more points, while three (North Carolina and Florida State twice) have been by 20 or more points.

The Tigers were led by Dillon Hunter’s career-high 17 points, while Ian Schieffelin had another double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Hunter finished the afternoon 7 of 10 from the field overall and 3-for-5 from behind the arc. He also had four assists.

Chase Hunter had one of the worst games of his career, as he scored just 3 points and did not make a field goal. He was 0-for-7 from the field and 0-for-5 from 3-point range. He also turned the ball over three times, though he did have three assists.

Though Hunter had a bad game, the entire Florida State team did. The Seminoles shot just 34 percent from the floor overall, including 2 of 15 from 3-point range. They were just 8 of 19 from the foul line.

Clemson also outrebounded the ‘Noles 41-33 and had a 23-8 edge in second chance points, though the Seminoles had two more offensive rebounds (13-11).

Eighteen of the Tigers’ 29 field goals were assisted, as they shot 48 percent overall. Clemson was 8-for-27 (30 percent) from behind the arc and 6-for-9 from the foul line.

It was over when

With the Seminoles (15-10, 6-8 ACC) trying to come back, Clemson struggled to handle the basket ball on this particular possession, but with the shot clock rolling down, a loose ball rolled to a Chauncy Wiggins at the top of the key. With three seconds to play on the shot clock, he calmy knocked down the wide open 3-pointer.

Wiggins’ three gave the Tigers a 50-30 lead with 11:17 to play and all but ended FSU’s chances at a comeback. He finished the game with 11 points.

Clemson led by as many as 27 points in the second half.

Tying a record

Clemson won its record tying fifth straight road game on Saturday. It ties the program’s longest ACC road winning streak. Clemson won five straight ACC road games in 1986-’87 – Horace Grant’s senior year.

This current stretch includes wins at Georgia Tech (70-59), at Pitt (78- 75 OT), at Virginia Tech (72-57) and at NC State (68-58), as well.

Winning record on the road

Clemson clinched a winning record on the road in league play with Saturday’s win at FSU. Clemson’s only ACC road loss so far this year is at Louisville.

The Tigers are now 6-1 on the road in ACC play this season.

Clemson had a 5-5 ACC road record each of the last two years, but the program has not had a winning league road record since 1986-87 when Grant led Clemson to a 5-2 league road record.

The only other winning season on the road in the ACC for Clemson took place in 1976-77, Tree Rollins’ senior year, when the Tigers were 4-2 on the ACC road.

Who needs your leading scorer?

Clemson lead by 17 points at halftime, 36-19, and led by as many as 20 points. And it did all of that without leading scorer Chase Hunter scoring a single point.

The graduate guard was 0-for-4 from the field in the opening 20 minutes.

Part of the reason why the Tigers did not need Hunter is because his brother, Dillon, scored 12 first half points and was 5 of 6 from the field and 2-for-3 from behind the arc.

Quick hands

Florida State came into the game leading the ACC in forced turnovers and turning those into points. However, in the first half, Clemson had seven steals, while the Seminoles had just one.

The Tigers finished the first 20 minutes with a 10-4 edge in turnovers, which they turned into a 14-0 edge in points off turnovers.

Clemson finished the game with 10 steals to FSU’s 6. The Tigers also won the turnover margin 14-10 and had a 16-8 edge in points off turnovers.

Up Next

Clemson gets the week off before returning to play next Saturday when it travels to SMU. Tip is set for 4 p.m., and will be televised on ACCN.

—photo by Melina Myers / Imagn Images