LOS ANGELES — Clemson basketball makes its first Elite Eight appearance in 44 years Saturday and will play Alabama at Crypto.com Arena.
The sixth-seeded Tigers (24-11) enter the NCAA West regional final after stunning Arizona 77-72 Thursday. They look to defeat a familiar non-conference foe Saturday (8:49 p.m. ET, TBS/truTV), beating the Crimson Tide 85-77 on Nov. 28 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
No. 4 seed Alabama (24-11) comes into the Elite Eight after upsetting No. 1 seed North Carolina 89-87, reaching this stage for the first time since 2004. Through three NCAA Tournament games, the Crimson Tide are averaging 90 points on 47.9% shooting.
MORE:Watch Clemson vs. Alabama in March Madness on SLING TV (subscribe today)
The winner will advance to the Final Four on April 6 in Phoenix to face the winner between No. 1 seed Connecticut and No. 3 seed Illinois.
FOLLOW THE MADNESS: NCAA tournament brackets, scores, schedules, teams and more.
Clemson vs Alabama live score updates in Elite Eight bracket
FINAL: Alabama 89, Clemson 82
Clemson’s run ends in what will be a bitterly disappointing Elite Eight loss to remember. Alabama finishes with a 43-33 rebounding advantage and 16-of-36 from 3.
Clemson ends the game 8-of-28 from 3. The second half was not good enough on both ends. Alabama shot 69% in the second half, including 10-of-15 from 3.
Clemson’s first Final Four appearance will wait. Still, this was a run to remember. The Tigers beat two top-10 teams and made the Elite Eight for the first time in 44 years. That’s legendary history for a program low on such things.
Clemson struggling with free throws in second half
Brad Brownell will lament a lot of things about this very winnable game, but 8-of-16 from the free throw line is a loud stat on the box score. Jack Clark, a 83% free throw shooter, missed both after he forced an Alabama turnover with 37 seconds left.
Alabama 79, Clemson 73 with 1:43 left | Clemson’s defense is a mess
Clemson has gone to a zone in the last few possessions, and instead of open 3-point shooters it is allowing open entries into the pain. Nick Pringle has a 3-point play to extend Alabama’s lead to 6 after a Joe Girard 3. Timeout Clemson.
Girard has been the offense for Clemson late, now at 4-of-8 from 3.
Alabama 75, Clemson 67 with 3:12 left | Tigers second best on the glass
Clemson concedes two offensive rebounds to the same player (Nick Pringle), then sends him to the line via foul. Clemson is 2-of-8 from the free throw line itself.
The Tigers then hit a 3-pointer, and PJ Hall then fouls Pringle on another offensive rebound and lay-in. Hall is done for the day. He finishes with 14 points and four rebounds.
Alabama is up to 15 3-pointers and 16 offensive rebounds, and those two things are carrying the Tide.
Alabama 68, Clemson 59 with 6:12 left | Alabama catches fire
Alabama hits four straight 3-pointers, and Brad Brownell calls timeout.
Clemson’s defense is not making any of those shots feel difficult. The Tigers must go on a run.
Alabama 58, Clemson 53 with 7:59 left | PJ Hall picks up his fourth foul
Clemson is in the danger zone. Joe Girard is now 1-of-5 from 3, Chase Hunter hasn’t scored in the second half and PJ Hall just picked up his fourth foul.
The Tigers haven’t made a shot in over three minutes. It’s going to take a big effort down the stretch for Clemson to get this done.
Alabama 55, Clemson 51 with 11:24 left | Tigers need some stops
Alabama has hit nine of its last 12 3-pointers. The Tigers defense has fallen asleep on the perimeter for brief moments, and the Tide’s shooters have made them pay.
Clemson’s effort hasn’t waned, even if execution is up and down. Take this block-and-save by Chase Hunter.
Alabama 46, Clemson 43 with 15:54 left | PJ Hall gets going as Grant Nelson gets his third foul
PJ Hall has back-to-back driving baskets to keep Clemson afloat, including a possible 3-point play going into the media timeout.
The foul was on Alabama’s Grant Nelson, who has three fouls. The Tide have made 12 of their last 18 shots.
Halftime: Alabama 35, Clemson 32
Alabama goes on a 20-2 run to take the lead. Alabama has 10 second-chance points on 13 offensive rebounds, an unacceptable rate for the Tigers on the glass.
PJ Hall picked up his second foul late in the half and sat for a couple minutes. He has four points on 2-of-6 shooting. Joe Girard has two points on 1-of-5 shooting. Clemson is shooting 39% from the floor and 1-of-9 from 3.
Jack Clark and RJ Godfrey also have two fouls.
Clemson 28, Alabama 26 with 3:51 left in the first half | Alabama starting to make threes
Alabama hits three straight 3-pointers to ignite a 13-2 run. Clemson’s offense is stagnant right now, and it’s impacting the other end of the floor.
PJ Hall has four points and three turnovers, two of which came just before the most recent timeout. He and Joe Girard (0 points on 0-of-3 shooting) need to get going.
Clemson 26, Alabama 18 with 6:05 left in the first half | Tigers in control for now
Clemson’s lead ballooned to 13 before an Alabama mini-run. Timeout Tigers.
Alabama is 2-of-14 from 3, continuing the trend of Clemson NCAA Tournament opponents for now. Clemson is 10-of-23 from the floor, OK but not spectacular against an Alabama defense that has been up-and-down this season.
Clemson 15, Alabama 11 with 11:48 left in the first half | Tigers playing at their tempo
Clemson has taken care of the ball on offense and played the same active defense it has employed throughout the NCAA Tournament. RJ Godfrey completes a 3-point play right after the media timeout. Don’t underestimate the importance of Godfrey and Chauncey Wiggins off the bench in this competition.
Grant Nelson returns to the game for Alabama.
Clemson 8, Alabama 6 with 15:42 left in the first half | Familiar start for the Tigers
Clemson leads 8-6 at the first media timeout. Alabama just had an offensive possessions with two offensive rebounds that resulted in free throws. The Crimson Tide had three total offensive boards in that first stint.
Another hot start for Ian Schieffelin, who has six points including a big-time dunk.
Alabama’s Grant Nelson, who was a force in the second half against UNC on Thursday, has two fouls and will sit for a while.
UConn dominates Illinois to advance to the Final Four
UConn turned a 23-all tie into a blowout with a 30-0 run to dispatch of 3-seed Illinois in the East Region Final.
The Huskies will play the Clemson-Alabama winner next Saturday in Arizona in the Final Four, seeking back-to-back national titles.
Clemson vs. Alabama Elite 8 officials
Tonight’s officials are Keith Kimble, James Breeding and Brian Dorsey.
Clemson vs. Alabama Elite 8 starting lineups
Clemson: G Chase Hunter, G Joe Girard III, F Jack Clark, F Ian Schieffelin, F PJ Hall
Alabama: G Mark Sears, G Rylan Griffen, G Aaron Estrada, F Grant Nelson, F Nick Pringle
What channel is Clemson vs Alabama on today? How to watch, stream live
- TV channel: TBS and truTV
- Stream: NCAA March Madness Live app | SLING TV (subscribe today)
Clemson will tip off vs. Alabama on TBS/truTV. Streaming options include the NCAA March Madness Live app and Sling TV. Announcers for the game are Brian Anderson, Jim Jackson and Allie LaForce.
Clemson vs Alabama start time, TV info, location
- Start time: 8:49 p.m. ET
- TV info: TBS/truTV
- Location: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California
Clemson vs. Alabama preview
Clemson: The Tigers earned their fourth NCAA Tournament bid under coach Brad Brownell. They defeated No. 11 seed New Mexico, No. 3 seed Baylor and No. 2 seed Arizona to reach the Elite Eight for the second time in program history. Chase Hunter has been their leading scorer, averaging 19.7 points through three March Madness games.
Alabama: The Crimson Tide made March Madness for the fourth straight season. They beat No. 13 Charleston, No. 12 Grand Canyon and UNC to get to the Elite Eight, looking to reach the Final Four for the first time. Mark Sears has been their leading scorer through three NCAA Tournament games, averaging 24.7 points per game.
Clemson vs. Alabama odds, betting line, spread
- Spread: Clemson (+2.5)
- Over/under: 164.5
- Moneyline: Clemson (+125), Alabama (-150)
Clemson vs. Alabama prediction, game picks
Clemson 79, Alabama 75: The Tigers are 13-1 against non-ACC opponents this season, displaying they are a tough team for unfamiliar opponents to handle. Add in Clemson’s defense has hit its stride, slowing down high-octane offenses in March Madness, expect the Tigers to advance to the Final Four.
Clemson vs. Alabama injury updates
Clemson:
- Alex Hemenway (lower body, out)
- Bas Leyte (shoulder, out)
Alabama:
- Latrell Wrightsell Jr. (head, out)
Clemson vs. Alabama stats
Clemson
- PPG: 77.2
- PPG allowed: 70.7
- FG%: 46.8%
- 3PT%: 35.2%
- KenPom ranking: 19
Alabama
- PPG: 90.7
- PPG allowed: 81.1
- FG%: 47.7%
- 3PT%: 36.8%
- KenPom ranking: 14
Clemson vs. Alabama championship odds
Odds according to BetMGM:
CLEMSON: +3500
ALABAMA: +2000
Clemson basketball schedule 2023-24
The past five games of Clemson’s 2023-24 basketball season. For the full schedule, click here
| 3/9 | Wake Forest, L (81-76) |
| 3/13 | Boston College, L (76-55) |
| 3/22 | New Mexico, W (77-56) |
| 3/24 | Baylor, W (72-64) |
| 3/28 | Arizona, W (77-72) |
| 3/30 | Clemson vs. Alabama (NCAA Tournament Elite Eight) |
Alabama basketball schedule 2023-24
The past five games of Alabama’s 2023-24 basketball season. For the full schedule, click here
| 3/9 | Arkansas, W (92-88) |
| 3/15 | Florida, L (102-88) |
| 3/22 | Charleston, W (109-96) |
| 3/24 | Grand Canyon, W (72-61) |
| 3/28 | North Carolina, W (89-87) |
| 3/30 | Alabama vs. Clemson (NCAA Tournament Elite Eight) |
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