SOUTH BEND, Ind. (Interstat) — Jestin Porter scored 26 points and Clemson used a dominant defensive performance to pull away from Notre Dame in the second half for a 76-61 victory in Atlantic Coast Conference men’s basketball on Saturday at a sold-out Joyce Athletic Center.

The Tigers, who led by five at halftime, held the Fighting Irish to just 27 points after the break, forcing nine turnovers and limiting Notre Dame to 9-of-23 shooting from the field. Clemson improved to 14-3 overall and 3-1 in the ACC, while Notre Dame fell to 10-6 and 1-3.

The most important part of the game was Clemson’s decisive 16-2 run early in the second half, which turned a tight contest into a comfortable lead. With Clemson leading 41-39, the Tigers locked down defensively. The run was fueled by Porter, who scored six points during the stretch, including a driving layup off a Notre Dame turnover. RJ Godfrey added a hook shot and Nick Davidson capped the surge with a 3-pointer from the wing, assisted by Dillon Hunter, to give Clemson a 57-41 advantage with 10:20 remaining. Notre Dame never recovered, getting no closer than 12 points the rest of the way.

Porter, a 6-foot-1 guard from Houston, was efficient, hitting 9 of 18 shots from the field and adding three steals. His performance continued a strong stretch of play, coming off a 21-point outing in a win at Pittsburgh earlier in the week. He was supported by Godfrey, who had 16 points, and Carter Welling, who added 14 points and three assists.

Notre Dame was led by Jalen Haralson’s 18 points, but the freshman from Anderson, Indiana, was hampered by foul trouble. Logan Imes contributed 13 points. The Irish were undone by ball security issues, committing 14 turnovers against only two assists for the entire game. Clemson converted those miscues into 18 points.

Clemson’s defensive pressure was the story, as they held Notre Dame to an offensive rating of 96.0 points per 100 possessions. The Tigers also controlled the glass, out-rebounding the Irish 36-26. While both teams struggled from 3-point range, Clemson’s ability to get to the free-throw line and convert proved critical; the Tigers made 15 of 18 attempts, while Notre Dame was 12 of 18.

The Tigers set the tone early, opening the game on a 9-0 run before Notre Dame responded with a flurry of 3-pointers to keep pace. The first half featured six ties and five lead changes, with Clemson taking a 39-34 edge into the locker room after Porter hit a jumper in the final minute.

Clemson will look to continue its momentum when it hosts Boston College on Tuesday night. Notre Dame, which has lost three of its last four, will try to regroup at home against Miami on Tuesday. The announced attendance was 6,933.