No. 10 BYU 67, Clemson 64 — Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden

CLEMSON, S.C. — Clemson men’s basketball suffered a tough road loss at the Jimmy V Classic, falling 67-64 to No. 10 BYU in New York on Dec. 9.

The Tigers built a massive halftime lead, outscoring BYU 43-22 in the first half and appearing in command at Madison Square Garden. But BYU mounted a historic second-half comeback, outscoring Clemson 45-21 behind a 28-point night from AJ Dybantsa. A dramatic finish saw BYU’s Rob Wright hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to complete the rally and seal the win. Clemson’s Jestin Porter led the Tigers with 17 points, with support from RJ Godfrey and Efrem Johnson. The loss was a lesson in closing out games against elite competition as Clemson looks to tighten up ahead of ACC play.

Significance: The close battle against a top-10 opponent showcased Clemson’s potential — but also highlighted late-game execution issues that the Tigers must resolve as the season progresses.