Clemson stuns No. 6 Florida State for its fourth win vs. a Top 6 opponent this season
Al-Amir Dawes scored 18 points, including a layup with one second remaining, as Clemson knocked off its third Top 6 opponent this season with a 70-69 victory against No. 6 Florida State.
Dawes, a freshman guard, drove the length of the court in the final four seconds to convert the game-winning layup.
Dawes has averaged 15 points a game over the Tigers’ last five games.
Sophomore guard John Newman also scored 18 points for Clemson, which improved to 15-13 overall and evened its Atlantic Coast Conference record at 9-9 with two games left in the regular season.
Florida State, which had a four-game winning streak snapped, fell to 24-5, 14-4.
The last time Clemson upset three Top 6-ranked teams in a single season occurred in the 1979-80 season. The Tigers already have knocked off Top 6 opponents Duke and Louisville earlier this season.
SATURDAY'S MARQUEE GAMES:
- TCU topples No. 2 Baylor to knock Bears off top perch in Big 12
- No brawl this time: No. 1 Kansas holds off Kansas State
- Providence upends No. 12 Villanova to make March Madness case
- No. 17 Iowa downs No. 14 Penn State in Big Ten collision
Clemson trailed the Seminoles by seven at halftime, 39-32, but opened the second half by outscoring Florida State 17-8 and eventually pulling ahead 49-47 on a 3-pointer by Dawes with 13:02 remaining.
Florida State responded and led 59-56 with 4:33 left, but the Tigers closed the game by making seven consecutive field goals, including Dawes' court-length drive and layup with one second left.
Clemson, which shot 54 percent in the second half, drew six charges, the most for the Tigers since 1987.
The Tigers will play at Virginia Tech on Wednesday, then conclude the regular-season with a home game against Georgia Tech on Saturday.