The Clemson Tigers outlasted the Georgia Bulldogs in overtime for their biggest nonconference win of the 2025-26 men’s college basketball season Sunday. Coach Brad Brownell’s Tigers defeated Georgia, 97-94, in the championship game of the Shriners Children’s Charleston Classic at TD Arena.
Clemson improved to 6-1 overall behind 18 points from Middle Tennessee transfer guard Jestin Porter and 16 from senior Dillon Hunter, who sank two foul shots with four seconds left in overtime.
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Georgia (6-1) suffered its first loss of the season.
The Tigers got a big 3-pointer from Butta Johnson with just over two minutes left in the overtime period for a five-point lead at 88-83. The senior transfer from UAB had seven of Clemson’s 17 points in overtime, with Hunter adding six thanks to four foul shots from the free throw line.
Johnson (13 points total) was one of six players to finish in double figures for the Tigers, who got 12 points and seven rebounds from RJ Godfrey, and 11 apiece from Carter Welling and Zac Foster. Porter’s 18 points were a season-high; he was 7-of-14 from the field, including 4-of-9 from behind the arc.
Clemson trailed by 10 early in the game at the under-12 timeout in the first half before taking a one-point halftime lead at 41-40 on two Godfrey foul shots.
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The Tigers led by as many as 10 points in the second half before Georgia closed with a run, tying the game on a dunk by Kareem Staff with 12 seconds left in regulation. The Tigers never trailed in overtime, outscoring Georgia 17-14.
Clemson won despite a season-high 26 points from Georgia’s Jeremiah Wilkinson.
The Tigers will face Alabama A&M at Littlejohn Coliseum Friday at 7 p.m. ET.
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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Clemson basketball takes down Georgia in overtime thriller
