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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) -- Seton Hall freshmen Andre Barrett and Eddie
Griffin are making the most of coach Tommy Amaker's trust.
Barrett hit the game-winning free throw with 5.2 seconds left
and Griffin blocked Clemson's last-chance attempt as Seton
Hall (2-0, No. 10 ESPN/USA Today, AP) escaped with a 79-78 victory Tuesday night.
"For our young team to be able to withstand the pressure and
the heat, make plays down the stretch ... each and every one of them ... and I was impressed," said Amaker, who went to a Final Four as a
Duke guard and won two NCAA titles as a Blue Devils assistant.
Amaker had a lot of knowledge of how difficult Littlejohn
Coliseum can be. He lost his past three games here to Clemson (1-1)
when he was a Duke coach. He knew if his young players were going
to crack -- and they almost did -- it would be in the loud, steamy
Atlantic Coast Conference environment.
"This shows that we don't have to grow up all that much," said
Barrett, who finished with 12 points and four assists. "The
chemistry on this team is getting better all the time."
Darius Lane scored 29 points with a career-best seven 3-pointers
for Seton Hall. His last points -- two foul shots -- increased the
Pirates' lead to 68-57.
The Tigers, led by the ACC's top scorer a year ago in Will
Solomon, went on a 17-4 run to lead 76-74 with 3:04 to play. That's
when the youngest Pirates took control.
Griffin hit two free throws and a basket to regain the lead,
78-76.
Dustin Braddick retied it for Clemson, setting up the wild
finish.
Solomon, who had 24 of his game-high 31 points in the second
half, had two chances, but was called for a charge and lost the
ball among several defenders, including Griffin.
Amaker said the final play was designed for Lane first and then
Griffin. But both were covered up and Barrett drove the lane,
drawing a foul on Clemson's Tony Stockman.
"I knew he was going to make that first one," Griffin said.
"I expected him to make the second one, too."
Instead, Ed Scott rushed down court after the miss. With time running
out, he launched a shot that Griffin blocked by extending his arm.
"I would have loved for their team to have allowed Will
(Solomon) to shoot the ball," Clemson coach Larry Shyatt said.
"But after it's rebounded and passed to somebody, you have about
three dribbles left."
Griffin continued his amazing play. He had 22 points, 14
rebounds and three blocks in Seton Hall's opener against Rider. In
this one, he was even more impressive with 22 points, 13 rebounds,
four blocks and made two of the smoothest 3-pointers you're going
to see.
"When you look at Eddie Griffin's line and see how well he
played in foul trouble a lot in the second half, you find out a lot
about your players in situations such as this," Amaker said.
Lane was the story for most of the game, scoring 17 points in
the first half and hitting almost every big shot until Clemson's
comeback.
As Lane's last 3-pointer, from well beyond NBA range, swished
through, he skipped down the court and waved to the crowd.
"I was feeling pretty good out there tonight," Lane said. "I
was glad we got this one early in the season and not later on."
Both teams looked ragged in the opening half. Seton Hall scored
only 15 points in the first 14 minutes. Solomon picked up two fouls and
did not play the last 9:36.
But it looked like the Tigers would survive with a 7-0 run after
Solomon went to the bench and led 24-15. But the Pirates, behind
the veteran Lane, made the Tigers pay with a 22-5 run the rest of
the way.
Lane closed it with a 3-pointer to send the Pirates to the
locker room with a 37-29 lead.
Griffin added 10 points and nine rebounds in the opening half.
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ALSO SEE
Mens College Basketball Scoreboard
Seton Hall Clubhouse
Clemson Clubhouse
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