National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Clemson 67, Alabama 54
When: 4:00 PM ET, Sunday, December 18, 2016
Where: Legacy Arena, Birmingham, Alabama
Officials: # Doug Shows, # Roger Ayers, # Patrick Adams
Attendance: 11147

Shelton Mitchell scored 18 points and Clemson took advantage of a bevy of first-half Alabama turnovers to defeat the Crimson Tide 67-54 on Sunday at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Gabe DeVoe came off the bench to toss in 11 points for the Tigers, who were averaging a little more than 80 points per game heading into Sunday's contest but had trouble finding some rhythm against the Tide.

Jarron Blossomgame, Clemson's leading scorer at 18.6 points per game, was held to nine points and committed four turnovers.

But for all the trouble the Tigers had, it was nothing compared to Alabama's woes on offense. Coming into the game, Alabama's offense already was challenged averaging just 68.8 points per game -- 280th in the country. Sunday's performance did little to boost the ranking.

Avery Johnson Jr. led the Crimson Tide with 17 points off the bench and was the only Alabama player to reach double figures. All 11 Alabama players who saw action scored.

Alabama (5-4) went 16-for-50 from the field (32 percent). From 3-point range, Alabama made 3 of 20 (15 percent).

Clemson led by 17 in the first half and equaled that margin at 50-33 midway through the second half. If not for their free throws, the Crimson Tide would have been looking at a bigger deficit.

But the game didn't start that way. In fact, the Crimson Tide couldn't have scripted a better start as Alabama scored the first six points of the game.

Mitchell finally got the Tigers (8-2) on the board at the 16:04 mark. By the time the clock struck 15:00, Clemson had the lead with a 7-6 advantage.

Braxton Key's offensive put-back gave Alabama its final lead of the day at 9-7. In the next six minutes, Clemson went on a 17-1 run to open up a 24-10 lead.

Leading at the intermission, 31-19, the Tigers had made 13 of 31 from the field, including 4 of 11 from 3-point range.

Alabama was an abysmal 6-for-23 (26.1 percent) from the field and only 1 of 6 from beyond the arc. To compound the situation, the Crimson Tide turned the ball over 12 times.

Johnson led the Tide with five points off the bench in the first half. His 3-pointer in Alabama's final possession of the half cut the deficit to 12.

Clemson takes on No. 16 South Carolina in Columbia on Wednesday before heading home to host UNC Wilmington on Dec. 28 to close out its nonconference slate. The Tigers open Atlantic Coast Conference play on Dec. 31 against Wake Forest.

The Crimson Tide host Arkansas State on Wednesday and then Stetson comes to Tuscaloosa on Dec. 29 before Alabama opens Southeast Conference play on Jan. 3 against Mississippi State.
Top Game Performances
 
Clemson   Alabama
Shelton Mitchell 18 Scoring Avery Johnson Jr. 17
Gabe DeVoe 4 Assists Dazon Ingram 2
Sidy Djitte 7 Rebounds Donta Hall 7
Shelton Mitchell 4 Free Throws Made Avery Johnson Jr. 5
Avry Holmes 2 Steals Avery Johnson Jr. 3
Jaron Blossomgame 1 Blocks Donta Hall 3
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Clemson 67 43.6 9-22 10-14 10 31 1 7 11
Alabama 54 32.0 3-20 19-25 7 34 3 9 16