Buckner Shines in Clemson Debut; Tigers Roll ‘Cats by 50

Clemson University men’s basketball team started the 2025–26 season impressively, defeating New Hampshire 88–38 on Monday night at Littlejohn Coliseum. It was a wire-to-wire win, and the 38 points conceded marked Clemson’s lowest total allowed in a season opener since December 11, 1946, when the Tigers beat Erskine 58–30.

Ace Buckner Leads the Charge

Redshirt freshman Ace Buckner from Dallas, Texas, led Clemson with 18 points, three rebounds, two assists, and one block. Buckner outperformed his father, Greg Buckner, who tallied 10 points, nine assists, and five rebounds in his own debut for Clemson on November 29, 1994, against Charleston Southern.

Buckner finished an efficient 6-for-7 from the field and made all six of his free throws.

Supporting Performances

RJ Godfrey nearly earned his third career double-double, posting nine points and nine rebounds.
Jake Wahlin added 11 points and four boards.
Jestin Porter scored eight points, contributing five rebounds and three assists.
Carter Welling completed the double-digit scorers with 10 points.

Team Effort and Game Flow

The Tigers finished the first half on a decisive 15–2 run over the final six minutes and 16 seconds, taking a 43–16 halftime lead. Twelve Clemson players saw playing time, and eleven contributed points to the scoreboard.

Historical Note

This dominant defensive performance set a benchmark unseen in nearly eight decades of Clemson basketball season openers.

Author’s Summary: Ace Buckner’s strong debut powered Clemson to a record-setting 88–38 victory over New Hampshire, marking a historic defensive performance for the Tigers.

Clemson University Athletics — 2025-11-04