GREENVILLE, S.C. (Interstat) — In a tense Atlantic Coast Conference clash that came down to the final possession, the Clemson Tigers held off a furious second-half rally by the SMU Mustangs to secure a 74-70 victory on Wednesday night at a packed Bi-Lo Center.

The game, played before an announced crowd of 8,134, saw the Tigers improve to 13-3 overall, while the Mustangs, in their inaugural ACC season, fell to 12-3.

Clemson appeared poised to run away with the contest early, building a commanding 34-25 halftime lead behind a balanced offensive attack and disruptive defense that forced 10 SMU turnovers in the opening period. The Tigers’ lead ballooned to 13 points early in the second half after a layup by RJ Godfrey made it 42-29.

The most important part of the game, however, was SMU’s relentless response. Sparked by the dynamic guard play of Boopie Miller, the Mustangs chipped away at the deficit with a 16-5 run. Miller, who finished with a game-high 23 points, capped the surge with a three-pointer assisted by Jaron Pierre to pull SMU within two at 47-45 with just over 14 minutes remaining.

From there, the teams traded blows in a back-and-forth affair that featured eight lead changes and six ties in the second half alone. SMU’s 7-foot-2 center Samet Yigitoglu provided a crucial interior presence, scoring 14 points and anchoring the defense. His hook shot with just over five minutes to play gave the Mustangs a 64-62 advantage, their first lead since the game’s opening minutes.

Clemson answered immediately, as Godfrey converted a tough layup while being fouled and made the ensuing free throw to reclaim the lead at 65-64. Godfrey led the Tigers with 17 points, showcasing efficiency in the paint.

The final minutes were a tense exchange of clutch plays and critical mistakes. With Clemson clinging to a 71-70 lead after two Dillon Hunter free throws with nine seconds left, SMU had one final chance. Out of a timeout, Miller found Pierre for a clean look at a potential game-winning three-pointer from the wing, but the shot rattled out. Hunter secured the defensive rebound, was fouled, and sank two more free throws with 5.5 seconds remaining to seal the four-point victory for the Tigers.

Hunter finished with 10 points and four assists, providing steady backcourt play alongside Jestin Porter. Nick Davidson added nine key points off the bench for Clemson, including several important baskets during the second-half tug-of-war.

For SMU, Miller’s 23-point effort was supplemented by 12 points each from BJ Edwards and Pierre. The Mustangs, who entered the game having won 10 of their last 11, including an impressive victory over North Carolina, shot significantly better in the second half, scoring 45 points, but could not overcome their early offensive struggles and 15 total turnovers.

Clemson’s defense, particularly in the first half, proved to be the difference. The Tigers consistently disrupted SMU’s rhythm, turning steals into transition opportunities and building the cushion necessary to withstand the Mustangs’ late charge. The win marked a successful start to the ACC home schedule for Clemson, which was projected as a 4.5-point favorite by oddsmakers.

SMU will look to rebound quickly as it continues a demanding conference road trip at Duke on Saturday. Clemson, meanwhile, heads to Notre Dame for its next contest, also on Saturday.