GREENVILLE, S.C. — Donte Grantham scored a game-high 22 points and Clemson shot 50.9 percent from the floor en route to a 78-45 victory against UTSA on Sunday afternoon at Bon Secours Wellness Center in the first game of the Men Who Speak Up Main Event.
Lucas O’Brien led the Roadrunners (0-2) with a career-high 12 points to go along with five rebounds. Gino Littles tied his career best for the second consecutive outing with seven points and the sophomore point guard added four rebounds and four assists.
Meanwhile, Grantham went 7-of-9 from the floor, including a 5-of-7 effort from behind the arc, to lead the Tigers (2-0), who shot 65.4 percent in the first half. Jordan Roper added 13 points and seven assists, while Gabe DeVoe and Jaron Blossomgame each chipped in with 11 points.
O’Brien led UTSA early with a pair of 3-pointers and the junior tied his previous career high with eight points in the first 11 minutes of the game. Nick Allen connected on the first 3-pointer of his collegiate career with 13:35 on the clock to pull within 18-14, but the hot-shooting Tigers followed with a 19-4 run to break the game open.
Clemson started the contest by hitting nine of its first 12 shots, including three 3-pointers, to help maintain the early lead. Grantham and Gabe Devoe each hit a pair of treys during the run that pushed the home squad’s lead to 37-18.
With just eight seconds to go in the half, J.R. Harris hit a baseline jumper to give the Roadrunners the final basket, but Clemson held a 48-28 advantage at intermission.
O’Brien kissed a 15-footer off the glass early in the second half to set his new career high.
The Roadrunners zone defense helped cool the Tigers midway through the period as UTSA held Clemson scoreless for nearly six-and-a-half minutes. UTSA forced five turnovers during the stretch, but could only trim four points off the deficit.
The Tigers followed with a 12-0 run for a 73-36 cushion, their largest of the day. Ryan Bowie sandwiched a pair of 3-pointers around a triple by Harris in the final minutes, but Clemson closed out the 33-point victory.
UTSA will continue play in the Men Who Speak Up Main Event with a 7 p.m. matchup on Tuesday, Nov. 17 at Creighton (1-0). The contest can be seen nationally on FOX Sports 2.