Jestin Porter scored 14 points as Clemson dominated from the outset and cruised to an overwhelming 92-56 rout of visiting Alabama A&M on Friday night.
The Tigers (7-1) followed up close wins against Xavier and Georgia last weekend in the Charleston Classic by asserting themselves early en route to a fourth straight win ahead of games against ranked foes Alabama and BYU in the Jimmy V Classic.
Carter Welling added 12 and seven rebounds for Clemson, which led by double digits for the final 35-plus minutes. RJ Godfrey added 10 as the Tigers shot 62.1% in the first half and 54.5% overall.
Welling went 8 for 8 from the free throw line, while Godfrey also led all rebounders in the game with eight. The Tigers enjoyed a 44-23 advantage on the glass.
All 12 Clemson players who entered the game all hit the scoring column.
The Tigers scored 49 points in the paint and 18 fastbreak points. Clemson used 12 players and no one appeared for more than 22 minutes ahead of its next two big nonconference opponents.
Alabama A&M (3-2) was routed for the second time against a power conference opponent after shooting 34% in its 98-51 loss at Indiana on Nov. 5.
Kintavious Dozier, P.J. Eason and James Graham scored 10 apiece as the Bulldogs shot 37%. Alabama A&M shot 29% in its disastrous opening half and 37% overall while also missing 18 of 22 3-point tries.
The Tigers scored the first seven points and took a double-digit lead less than five minutes in on a basket by Porter. Clemson increased its lead to 24-4 on a dunk by Welling with 11:51 left after a missed 3-pointer by Dozier on the previous possession.
Clemson reached 30 points when Porter converted a 3-point play for a 30-7 lead 15 seconds shy of the half’s midpoint. The Tigers went up by 30 when Porter’s 3-pointer made it 47-17 with 2:10 left and they held a 52-22 advantage by halftime.
The Tigers led by as many as 38 in the second half as their starters played limited minutes.
