GREENVILLE, S.C. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a suffocating defensive effort and a decisive second-half surge, the Clemson Tigers overcame a sluggish start to defeat the Mercer Bears 70-63 in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday at the Bi-Lo Center.

A crowd of 6,129 saw the Tigers, heavy pregame favorites, improve to 8-3 on the season, while Mercer fell to 7-3.

The most important part of the game unfolded over the final 12 minutes, as Clemson methodically transformed a narrow contest into a two-possession victory. Leading just 51-49 with 9:18 remaining, the Tigers embarked on a 19-8 run that sealed the outcome. The stretch was emblematic of the entire second half, where Clemson’s defense tightened and its offense found just enough efficiency to create separation.

After Mercer’s Zaire Williams hit a 3-pointer to pull the Bears within two, Clemson responded with stifling defense, holding Mercer without a field goal for over five minutes. During that critical span, the Tigers scored nine consecutive points. Jestin Porter sank two free throws, Carter Welling converted a layup off a steal, and after a Williams jumper for Mercer, Zac Foster threw down a dunk and Dillon Hunter drilled a 3-pointer from the wing, pushing the Clemson lead to 60-51 with 8:33 left.

Mercer, which had led for much of the first half and trailed by only six at halftime, could not mount a sustained counterattack. The Bears got as close as five points twice in the final two minutes but could not string together the necessary stops and scores. Clemson secured the win at the free-throw line, with Hunter making three crucial foul shots in the final 12 seconds after Mercer had closed to 65-63.

The game was a stark contrast in halves. Mercer, fueled by the dynamic play of guard Baraka Okojie, controlled the early tempo. Okojie, a junior from Brampton, Canada, scored 12 of his game-high 20 points before halftime, helping the Bears build a lead that reached nine points. Mercer shot 48% from the field in the first half and took a 39-33 lead into the break.

Clemson’s offense, however, was out of sync, committing nine first-half turnovers and shooting just 2-for-10 from 3-point range. The Tigers’ saving grace was a balanced scoring effort, with Nick Davidson scoring 10 of his 12 points before halftime to keep the deficit manageable.

The second half belonged to Clemson’s defense and its backcourt. The Tigers held Mercer to 24 points on 10-of-30 shooting after halftime, including a frigid 2-for-12 from beyond the arc. Clemson also forced eight second-half turnovers, converting them into 11 points.

Hunter, a sophomore from Atlanta, led the Tigers with 15 points, 12 of which came in the second half. His backcourt mate, Porter from Houston, added 10 points, while Davidson finished with 12 points and a game-high seven rebounds. RJ Godfrey of Suwanee, Georgia, provided a key all-around performance with nine points, seven rebounds, three steals and two assists.

For Mercer, Okojie’s 20 points and five assists were not enough to offset a poor team shooting afternoon from distance and the free-throw line. The Bears made only 6 of 22 3-point attempts and were an uncharacteristic 5-for-10 from the foul line. Williams, a sophomore from Brooklyn, New York, added 15 points, and center Armani Mighty of Toronto contributed 10 points and two blocks.

Clemson won despite an unremarkable shooting performance overall, making 25 of 54 field goals. The Tigers were more effective from deep, hitting 8 of 26, and more proficient at the line, making 12 of 16 free throws. They also won the battle on the glass, securing seven offensive rebounds to Mercer’s three, which led to a 12-4 advantage in second-chance points.

The victory gives Clemson momentum heading into a pivotal rivalry game against South Carolina on Tuesday. Mercer, which saw a four-game winning streak snapped, will look to regroup on the road at UCF on Wednesday.