Clemson Beats Stetson 85-72 in Opener
Ace Buckner scored a career-high 20 points as Clemson opened its season with an 85-72 win over Stetson at Littlejohn Coliseum.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Basketball
Clemson defeated Stetson 85-72 in its season opener at Littlejohn Coliseum on Monday, November 2, 2026. The Tigers led from start to finish, building a 25-point halftime advantage.
Why it matters
The opening win gives Clemson an early statement on balance and interior scoring, with several players reaching double figures. Stetson's nine turnovers and seven missed closing shots in the first half underscored the pressure Clemson applied.
Clemson shot 51 percent from the field and 9 of 24 (37.5 percent) from three-point range, while Stetson committed nine turnovers and Clemson forced seven in the first 20 minutes. The extraction does not establish how these numbers will hold against stronger opponents.
The players
Clemson Tigers
The Clemson men's basketball program, a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, competes at Littlejohn Coliseum in Clemson, South Carolina.
The details
Ace Buckner scored a career-high 20 points on 6-of-14 shooting, while Dylan Faulkner recorded the first double-double of his Clemson career with 16 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. Clemson closed the first half on a 12-0 run and led 49-24 at the break, its largest margin of the game.
Timeline
Monday, November 2, 2026: Clemson defeats Stetson 85-72 at Littlejohn Coliseum.
Friday, November 6, 2026: Clemson plays American at 7 p.m.
The Season Trajectory
The 85-72 opening win gives Clemson an early marker in its home-court opening sequence. It sets an initial benchmark for a roster whose depth is being measured against an American team on Friday.
Clemson's early two-way balance across several scorers suggests a deeper rotation than a single-star team would offer, which matters for fantasy and bracket planning. The Friday game against American offers the next look at whether the first-half scoring surge holds up.
The takeaway
Early-season depth often shows up first in how many players reach double figures, and Clemson's opener offers a clear example. Readers tracking the team should watch whether that balance carries into Friday's game against American.
What happens next
Clemson plays American at 7 p.m. on Friday, November 6, 2026.
Further reading
For more on the program, see Clemson Basketball coverage.
