Associated Press
CLEMSON, S.C. ó Clemson coach Brad Brownell told his new players that if they hung together and believed in their team, success would come to the Tigers.
Now, Brownellís got his first ACC win to prove it.
Jerai Grant had 18 points and Demontez Stitt 17 as Clemson won its seventh straight game, 79-72 over Miami on Saturday night.
A month ago, the Tigers appeared on verge of collapse, struggling to run Brownellís motion offense after successive losses at home to Michigan, to rival South Carolina and Florida State in its ACC opener.
Boy, how things have changed. The Tigers (12-4, 1-1 ACC) held strong despite nearly losing all of a 13-point lead. Grant, the nephew of former Clemson and NBA standout Horace Grant, dominated the middle while Stitt and fellow guard Andre Young answered whenever Miami (11-5, 0-2) closed in.
Grant added 11 rebounds for his third double-double this season and Stitt had 11 of his points in the second half, including five in a 12-0 run to start the half.
ěWeíve gotten so much better since those three losses in a row we had,î Grant said. ěWeíve been playing harder every step of the way.î