Buckner Shines in Clemson Debut; Tigers Dominate Wildcats by 50
Clemson University men’s basketball launched the 2025–26 season with a commanding 88–38 victory over New Hampshire on Monday night at Littlejohn Coliseum. The 38 points allowed marked the fewest by Clemson in a season opener since December 11, 1946, when they beat Erskine 58–30.
Ace Buckner Leads the Charge
Redshirt freshman Ace Buckner from Dallas, Texas (La Lumiere School, Ind.) led the Tigers with 18 points, three rebounds, two assists, and one block. His performance surpassed that of his father, Greg Buckner, who posted 10 points, nine assists, and five rebounds in his Clemson debut on November 29, 1994, against Charleston Southern.
Buckner finished an efficient 6-for-7 from the floor and an identical 6-for-7 from the free-throw line.
Team Effort and Depth
- RJ Godfrey (Suwanee, Ga./North Gwinnett/Georgia) nearly tallied his third career double-double with nine points and nine rebounds.
- Jake Wahlin (Provo, Utah/Timpview/Utah) added 11 points and four rebounds.
- Jestin Porter (Houston, Texas/Cypress Ridge/Middle Tennessee State) contributed eight points, five rebounds, and three assists.
- Carter Welling (Draper, Utah/Corner Canyon/Utah Valley) scored 10 points to round out the double-digit scorers.
Clemson closed the first half on a 15–2 run during the final 6:16 and held a 43–16 lead at halftime. Altogether, 12 players saw action for the Tigers, with 11 contributing points.
Author’s Summary
Ace Buckner’s stellar debut and Clemson’s balanced team play fueled a historic 50-point rout, signaling the Tigers’ strong start to the 2025–26 basketball season.