El Ellis scored 28 points and JJ Traynor added a career-high 16 to lead Louisville to an 83-73 victory over visiting Clemson in their Atlantic Coast Conference matchup on Saturday.
Ellis shot 9 of 15 from the field, including 3 of 6 from 3-point range, and grabbed five rebounds. Traynor hit 5 of 9 from the floor, including 2 of 4 from beyond the arc, and hauled in nine rebounds. He also blocked four shots.
Mike James had 13 points and Jae’Lyn Withers added eight points and nine rebounds for the Cardinals, who ended a four-game losing streak by winning for just the second time in their past 16 games.
The Cardinals (4-23, 2-14 ACC) shot 26 of 51 (51 percent) from the field, including 5 of 16 (31.3 percent) from 3-point range. Louisville outrebounded the Tigers 37-26.
Clemson (19-8, 11-5) has dropped four of its past five games and was led by PJ Hall’s 28 points, tying his career high. He also had eight rebounds. Brevin Galloway added 16 points and three steals, while Chase Hunter chipped in 15 points, six assists and five rebounds. Hunter Tyson finished with 12 points.
The Tigers shot 29 of 67 (43.3 percent) from the field, including a woeful 4 of 24 (16.7 percent) from beyond the arc.
After Clemson took a 44-43 lead on Tyson’s layup with 17 minutes left, the Cardinals took the lead for good with a 9-0 run, capped by Brandon Huntley-Hatfield’s jumper with 15:03 to go for a 52-44 cushion.
James’ jumper extended Louisville’s advantage to 66-52 with 7:37 remaining.
Clemson responded with a 14-4 run to pull to within 70-66 on Hunter’s layup with 2:23 left. But James hit a jumper and Huntley-Hatfield made a dunk to put Louisville ahead 74-66 lead with 59 seconds left.
Neither team led by more than five points during a tightly contested first half that ended with Louisville up 39-36.
Ellis scored 14 points and Traynor had 10 in the half for Louisville. Hall had 13 points and Galloway 12 for Clemson.
–Field Level Media