Clemson routs Presbyterian 77-44 in opener

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) -- Milton Jennings and Devin Booker, the only seniors on Clemson's roster, combined for 26 points Monday night as the Tigers defeated Presbyterian 77-44 in the season opener for both teams.

Jennings hit 6 of 7 from the field and finished with 15 points. Booker was 5 of 7 for 11 points as Clemson shot 53.6 percent from the field (30 of 56) including 7 of 18 from 3-pont range.

Freshman Jordan Roper added 11 in his debut as Clemson received 32 points from its bench.

Starting three sophomores in Tigers coach Brad Brownell's third opener, Clemson pushed a 17-point halftime lead to 30 in less than six minutes of the second half.

Junior post Joshua Clyburn scored 19 points and snagged 13 rebounds for Presbyterian.

Jennings drained a 3-pointer at the buzzer for a 38-21 halftime lead, then Clemson hit its first five shots of the second half to transform a comfortable halftime lead into a cushy one.

K.J. McDaniels and Roper hit back-to-back 3-pointers to make it 50-23 at 16:23.

Clemson scored the game's first seven points and led 27-7 at the 6:36 mark.

Clyburn scored Presbyterian's first points of the season with a move in the lane 4:33 into the game, but the Blue Hose hit one bucket over the next nine minutes.

Presbyterian hit 16 of 53 from the field (30.2 percent) with Clyburn and Ryan McTavish the only players with more than two field goals.

Clemson, which has won 28 straight season openers, had six turnovers and blocked 10 shots. The Tigers have beaten the Blue Hose seven straight times.