Clemson Leads American 39-35 at Halftime
Clemson took a five-point halftime edge over American at Littlejohn Coliseum after American had led by as many as seven in the first half.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Basketball
Clemson held a 39-35 halftime lead over American at Littlejohn Coliseum in Clemson, S.C., on November 6, 2026. American made 7 of 14 three-point attempts in the first half and led by as many as seven points before Clemson closed the half on an 8-0 run.
Why it matters
The first half was decided by American's outside shooting and Clemson's late scoring surge, leaving the game close entering the break. The result gives Clemson a narrow advantage in a contest where American's perimeter shooting kept it competitive.
American shot 7 of 14 (50.0%) from three-point range in the first half, while Madden Collins scored 13 points on 6-of-11 shooting. Clemson held a 20-12 scoring edge in the paint and a 18-14 rebounding advantage through the first 20 minutes, with the second half still to be played.
The players
Madden Collins
Collins is an American player who led his team with 13 first-half points on 6-of-11 shooting.
Liutauras Lelevicius
Lelevicius is a Clemson player who made all three of his three-point attempts and finished the first half with nine points.
Matt Mayock
Mayock is an American player who made all three of his three-point attempts and finished the first half with nine points.
The details
Clemson went on an 8-0 run late in the first half, capped by a Liutauras Lelevicius three-pointer that gave Clemson a 37-30 lead with 1:46 remaining. American answered with a Madden Collins layup and a Matt Mayock three-pointer, then Dylan Faulkner drew a foul on Greg Jones and made two free throws with 26 seconds left to set the final 39-35 margin.
Timeline
November 6, 2026: First half played at Littlejohn Coliseum in Clemson, S.C.
Season Trajectory
American's 7-of-14 first-half three-point shooting illustrates how perimeter efficiency has become a central factor in early-season college basketball results. Clemson's late 8-0 run shows how a single stretch can reshape a game's margin before the break.
Clemson's five-point halftime edge gives fantasy managers and bettors a clear read on a game where American's perimeter shooting kept it in range. The first-half foul trouble and free-throw shooting noted in the box score may affect rotation and scoring decisions in the second half.
The takeaway
Perimeter efficiency can overcome a deficit, but a late scoring run can erase it just as quickly. Watching how each team manages its shooting and free-throw execution in the second half will show whether the early margin holds.
Further reading
Explore more Basketball coverage for Clemson readers.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Heavy.
