Clemson takes down No. 9 Miami 76-65

GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Jaron Blossomgame scored 25 points and Clemson defeated a third straight ranked opponent for the first time in program history with a 76-65 victory over No. 9 Miami on Saturday.

The Tigers (12-6, 5-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) have won five straight overall, a run that includes a win at Syracuse and home victories over No. 21 Louisville, No. 9 Duke and the Hurricanes (13-3, 2-2), who dropped their second straight.

The Tigers looked like their tank may have run out as Miami opened a 57-51 lead with about 7 minutes left. That's when Clemson went on a 25-8 run to end the game and continue its stunning ACC start.

Davon Reed led Miami with 17 points while high-scoring point guard Angel Rodriguez was held to three points on 1-of-7 shooting.

Jordan Roper scored 18 points for the Tigers, who hadn’t beaten three ranked teams in a season since 1998

The Tigers had to come back to earth sometime, right?

Apparently, not yet.

Miami had a six-point lead in the second half, the last time on Tonye Jekiri’s basket with 7:48 to play. That’s when the Tigers took control. Blossomgame scored eight straight points to draw Clemson within a point before Donte Grantham hit the go-ahead basket.

Roper followed with a jumper and a 3-pointer to open a 66-60 lead for the Tigers.

Miami could not respond and lost their second consecutive game following an eight-game win streak.

Miami tried to make that happen in the first half with its on shooting. The Hurricanes hit five of six 3-point attempts, three by Reed, to grab a 34-32 halftime lead.

TIP-INS

Miami: The Hurricanes have taken four of the past five games with Clemson including a 56-48 victory in Miami last season. … The Hurricanes average five 3-pointers a game and they had that many in first half.

Clemson: When the Tigers defeated Duke last time out, it was their seventh career win over a defending NCAA tournament champion. The previous time that occurred was in 2010 when Clemson topped North Carolina 83-64. … Clemson, a 70 percent free throw shooting team, was 15 of 15 from the line.

UP NEXT

Miami travels to Boston College on Wednesday.

Clemson plays at No. 13 Virginia on Tuesday.

GALLERY: HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS WEEK IN COLLEGE HOOPS