Clemson Holds Off Boston College in Tense Finale

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. — Boston College concluded its home basketball season with a 78-69 loss to No. 11 Clemson on Wednesday night. The game, which showcased a fierce performance from Eagles forward Jayden Hastings, saw the Tigers’ offense overpower BC, even as the Eagles made multiple attempts to rally.

Hastings accounted for nearly half of BC’s scoring in the first half, leading with a career-high 18 points while shooting 8-for-8 from the field. His explosive start, which included a block on Clemson’s Ian Schieffelin and an and-1 dunk, was instrumental in keeping the Eagles within striking distance early in the game.

However, Clemson, led by Jaeden Zackery‘s pivotal 21 points, gradually established control. The Tigers surged to a 10-point lead by the 11:17 mark of the first half, capitalizing on BC’s defensive lapses, particularly in handling ball screens. Clemson’s Chase Hunter and Viktor Lakhin contributed heavily to the Tigers’ offensive clinic, with Hunter scoring 18 points and Lakhin securing 13 rebounds.

A pivotal moment occurred late in the game when BC cut a 16-point deficit to just two points, prompting a Clemson timeout. Dion Brown was key to this resurgence, scoring crucial buckets and nailing a three-pointer from the corner. Unfortunately for the Eagles, they failed to score for almost four minutes following that run, allowing Clemson to stabilize and regain control.

Despite BC’s efforts to claw their way back into contention, the Tigers quickly built their lead again, leading 78-69 by the final buzzer. The Eagles managed to connect on 41.7% of their field goals but struggled from three-point range, hitting only 6 of 18 attempts, including a rough patch of 10 missed shots in 11 attempts during a critical stretch in the second half.

“We had our chances, but every time we got close, they had an answer,” said Boston College head coach Earl Grant after the game. “Clemson is a strong team, and we need to be more consistent in our performance.”

The loss marks BC’s 15th defeat in conference play, sealing their fate at the bottom of the Atlantic Coast Conference standings and eliminating them from postseason contention. The Eagles concluded their home slate with a 9-8 record.

Clemson improves to 25-5 overall and 17-2 in the ACC, extending their winning streak to seven games as they prepare to host Virginia Tech on Saturday for their regular-season finale.