Kyle Lofton scored 22 points and hit two crucial free throws with 19 seconds left as No. 22 St. Bonaventure overcame a 14-point second-half deficit and defeated Clemson 68-65 in a semifinal of the Shriners Children’s Charleston Classic on Friday in Charleston, S.C.
The Bonnies (4-0) will play Marquette on Sunday in the tournament final. Clemson (4-1), which led by as many as 16 in the first half, will face West Virginia for third place on Sunday.
Jaren Holmes partially blocked Nick Honor’s desperation three-point attempt as time expired, preserving the victory.
After Honor tied the score at 63 with a driving layup, Holmes hit a wide-open three pointer from the left side to give the Bonnies a 66-63 advantage, putting them ahead for good. Clemson’s Hunter Tyson, who had eight points and seen rebounds, made a shot in the lane to cut the deficit to 66-65.
Holmes, who had 19 points and five assists, then missed on a contested drive, but Clemson’s Tyson back-rimmed a three-point attempt. Lofton grabbed the rebound, was fouled, and sank both free throws for a 68-65 lead with 19 seconds to go.
Inexplicably, on Clemson’s final possession, Honor began driving the lane before reversing course and going outside the arc. Holmes deflected his shot, which fell harmlessly short.
After shooting 48.4 percent from the field in the first half, Clemson got off to a fast start after intermission, making seven of its first 12 shots from the field to go ahead 53-42 on PJ Hall’s jumper in the lane. But the Bonnies scored the next five points, leading to a timeout by Clemson coach Brad Brownell.
Hall finished with 22 points and eight rebounds.
The timeout didn’t stop the Bonnies’ momentum. Back-to-back threes by Holmes and Lofton gave St. Bonaventure a 55-53 lead, its first advantage since it led 2-0 in the first minute of the contest. The Bonnies trailed, 36-26 at halftime.
Holmes’ three-pointer from the left corner with 5:56 left completed a 16-0 run and gave the Bonnies a 58-53 lead. But David Collins finally answered for the Tigers, and his three made it 58-56.
–Field Level Media
