Nick Davidson secured the victory for No. 20 Clemson with two crucial free throws in the final 24.9 seconds, finishing with a team-high 16 points and seven rebounds in a 66-64 win over Stanford on Wednesday night. Both teams struggled to convert key shots down the stretch.
Clemson’s top scorer RJ Godfrey missed two free throws with 1:31 remaining and then fouled Stanford’s Oskar Giltai, who was unsuccessful in the resulting one-on-one with 1:17 left. The Tigers improved to 19-4 overall and 9-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, extending their remarkable streak to 13 straight ACC road wins in the 2024-25 season — their fourth-longest in ACC history and the best in the last 25 years.
For Stanford, Aidan Kaman led the charge with 19 points, while freshman Ebuka Okolie, who averages 21.8 points per game ranking third nationally among freshmen, added 12 points in the first half on 4-of-7 shooting as the Cardinal held a slight 32-30 lead at halftime. However, Stanford (14-9, 3-7) has now dropped five consecutive games since beating No. 14 North Carolina on January 14.
This matchup marked Stanford’s fourth game against a ranked opponent at home in five contests at Maples Pavilion. They previously secured wins over No. 16 Louisville and No. 14 North Carolina but also suffered a heavy 80-50 loss to No. 6 Duke. Those two victories over top-25 teams tied the program’s best single-season record since 2013-14.
The Cardinal also paused for a moment of silence to honor former baseball coach Mark Marquis, who passed away last Friday.
Looking ahead, Clemson will travel to California on Saturday night, while Stanford will host Georgia Tech.
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Fan Take: This closely contested game highlights the rising competitiveness of college basketball and underscores Clemson’s impressive dominance on the road. For basketball fans, it’s exciting to see emerging talents like Ebuka Okolie and the strategic clutch performances shaping the future of the sport.
