Stitt-led Clemson captures confidence-building victory

CLEMSON -- Demontez Stitt played the role of ace starter and Trevor Booker closed out Clemson's 72-56 win Saturday against Boston College, helping the Tigers avoid an early- season ACC losing streak.

After providing nearly a third of Clemson's offense in last Sunday's loss at Duke, Stitt was again effective slashing and mixing in his improved jumper. He scored in double figures (15 points) for a fifth-straight game.

Booker scored a game-high 19 points on 14 shots, finding more room to operate against the Eagles. Booker

scored 11 points in the second half to help even the Tigers' record in ACC play (13-3, 1-1).

"In our league it's very easy to get in a two-, three-, four-game losing streak that wears at your confidence," Clemson coach Oliver Purnell said. "So any time you lose a game it becomes important to kind of get back and say 'Hey we're in a dogfight here,' and you move on to the next one."

The win was especially important considering those next games: hosting North Carolina on Wednesday, at N.C. State on Saturday, followed by a trip to Georgia Tech on Jan. 19, and a rematch against Duke on Jan. 23.

Backed by a sellout crowd at Littlejohn Coliseum, the Tigers played with a sense of urgency knowing their upcoming stretch of games combined with an 0-2 ACC mark could have severe consequences come March.

Unlike Clemson's first half against Duke when the Tigers scored a Purnell Era-low 12 points for a half, Clemson shot 58.6 percent in the first half, including a more efficient half-court game.

The Tigers also out-rebounded (41-34) Boston College (10-6, 1-1), which entered leading the ACC in rebounding margin (+9.8) thanks to rugged forwards Corey Raji and Joe Trapani and its flex offense, which compresses the half-court.

"You don't want to go 0-2 because teams are going 2-0 and that puts you behind the eight ball real fast especially with (North) Carolina coming up next," Clemson wing Tanner Smith said. "You can't look ahead, you can't look back."

Stitt picked up from where he left off at Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium, slashing his way to the goal for 14 points in the first half. Combine his second half at Duke and his first half against Boston College and Stitt produced 29 points.

He wasn't needed to challenge his career-high (21) in the second half as Clemson had built up its margin and began rebounding better ... and the Tigers had Booker.

While Stitt sparked the improved offensive effort, Booker effectively capped it. The senior star scored on a layup, and, after a steal of the following inbounds pass, added a dunk to give Clemson a 58-39 lead midway through the second half. Clemson built its lead to 68-48 with 3:44.

"We were a little down after Duke," Booker said. "It was a big confidence booster."

Reach Travis Sawchik at tsawchik@postandcourier.com and check out his Clemson blog at www.postandcourier.om/blogs/tiger_tracks.