Clemson Men’s Basketball Dominates in Season Opener
Clemson University men’s basketball started the 2025-26 season with an 88-38 victory over New Hampshire on Monday night at Littlejohn Coliseum. The 38 points allowed were the fewest in a season opener for Clemson since December 11, 1946, when they defeated Erskine 58-30.
Ace Buckner Leads the Way
Redshirt freshman Ace Buckner (Dallas, Texas/La Lumiere School) led the Tigers with 18 points, three rebounds, two assists, and one block. Buckner outperformed his father, Greg Buckner, who scored 10 points, tallied nine assists, and grabbed five rebounds in his debut on November 29, 1994, against Charleston Southern. Ace had an efficient night, shooting 6-for-7 from the field and from the free throw line.
Key Contributions from Supporting Players
- RJ Godfrey (Suwanee, Ga./North Gwinnett/Georgia) posted nine points and nine rebounds, just shy of a double-double.
- Jake Wahlin (Provo, Utah/Timpview/Utah) contributed 11 points and four rebounds.
- Jestin Porter (Houston, Texas/Cypress Ridge/Middle Tennessee State) scored eight points, added five rebounds, and three assists.
- Carter Welling (Draper, Utah/Corner Canyon/Utah Valley) finished with 10 points.
Strong Team Effort
Clemson finished the first half with a 15-2 run over the final 6:16, taking a commanding 43-16 lead at halftime. In total, 12 players saw action, and 11 scored in the game.
“The 38 points allowed were the fewest by Clemson in a season opener since Dec. 11, 1946, when it beat Erskine 58-30.”
Author’s summary: Clemson basketball started strong with a historic defensive performance and balanced offense, led by standout freshman Ace Buckner, setting a promising tone for the season.