Amanda Knapp
The Alabama Crimson Tide and the Clemson Tigers have a storied history in college sports, particularly in football. However, on March 30, 2024, the focus shifted to basketball as the two teams faced off in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Tournament. In a highly anticipated matchup, the Crimson Tide emerged victorious with a final score of 89-82, dashing Clemson's hopes of reaching their first Final Four. Alabama's victory was propelled by their exceptional 3-point shooting, outperforming Clemson in that category 16-8. This basketball encounter added another chapter to the intense rivalry between these two prestigious college athletics programs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | March 30, 2024 |
| Winner | Alabama |
| Final Score | Alabama 89-82 Clemson |
| Leading Scorers | Alabama: Mark Sears, Jarin Stevenson; Clemson: Chase Hunter, PJ Hall |
| Competition | NCAA March Madness Division 1 |
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What You'll Learn
Alabama beats Clemson in Elite 8
Alabama beat Clemson 89-82 in the Elite 8 on March 30, 2024, ending the Tigers' historic March Madness run. The sixth-seeded Clemson built an early 26-13 lead, powered by Chase Hunter and strong minutes from RJ Godfrey off the bench. However, Alabama's Jarin Stevenson stepped up, scoring 10 points, including two 3-pointers, in the first half, helping the No. 4 seed Crimson Tide take a 35-32 lead at halftime.
Clemson retook the lead in the second half, but Alabama stole it back thanks to the torrid shooting of Mark Sears and Stevenson, who combined for 12 3-pointers. Alabama finished with a 43-33 rebounding advantage and 16-of-36 from 3-pointers. Clemson, meanwhile, ended the game 8-of-28 from 3-pointers and 8-of-16 from the free-throw line.
Alabama's win set up a Final Four matchup against No. 1 Connecticut.
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Alabama's Mark Sears
Mark Sears, the SEC's leading scorer and an All-American, is a talented basketball player for the Alabama Crimson Tide. He previously played for two seasons at Ohio University (2020-2022), where he was a Lou Henson Award finalist and a five-time MAC Player of the Week. Sears transferred to Alabama in 2022, choosing the Crimson Tide over Auburn, Mississippi State, LSU, and Florida, among other schools.
During the 2023-24 season, Sears had a standout campaign for Alabama. He scored 20 or more points in 26 games, breaking an Alabama school record. Additionally, he set a program record for most free throws made in a single season (198) and ranked highly in three-pointers made, with 95. Sears's impressive shooting continued into the NCAA Tournament, where he scored 121 points, averaging 24.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game while shooting exceptionally well from the field, three-point range, and the free-throw line.
Sears's individual performances included a career-high 35 points against Purdue, a double-double against Grand Canyon, and 30-point games on four occasions. He also played a crucial role in Alabama's victory over Clemson in March 2024, helping the Crimson Tide advance in the NCAA Tournament.
In recognition of his outstanding season, Sears was named to the Second Team All-SEC. Despite declaring for the 2023 NBA Draft, he decided to return to Alabama for his senior year. Mark Sears's scoring prowess and all-around ability make him a key player for the Alabama Crimson Tide basketball team.
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Clemson's Chase Hunter
Clemson Tigers' Chase Hunter is arguably the best guard in the West. In March 2024, his critical and-1 layup against Arizona sent the Tigers to their first Elite Eight since 1980, cementing his status as a Clemson basketball icon.
Hunter has had a stellar career with the Clemson Tigers. In the 2024 NCAA Tournament, he led the Tigers in scoring (17.8 ppg) and averaged 4.3 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game. He also added eight steals and three blocked shots, earning him All-West Region honours. Hunter played and started all 36 games for the Tigers that advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight, tying the record for most starts and games played in program history.
In the 2024-25 season, Hunter posted his first career double-double with a 13-point, 11-assist performance in a win over Syracuse. He appeared in all 33 games and made 15 starts, averaging 6.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game. He also had six games with at least five rebounds and 13 games with at least five assists while assuming the point guard role for the first time in his career.
In the highly-anticipated Elite 8 matchup between Clemson and Alabama in March 2024, Alabama emerged victorious with a final score of 89-82. Despite Clemson's efforts to cut down their deficit, Alabama's three-pointers proved too much to handle. Although Clemson lost, Chase Hunter's performance throughout the tournament, especially his iconic game-winning layup against Arizona, solidified his legacy in Clemson basketball history.
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Alabama's 3-point range
Alabama's success from 3-point range can be attributed to the team's analytical approach and the individual skill of the players. Coach Nate Oats is known for his focus on analytics and his desire for the team to take a high volume of 3-point shots. This strategy paid off against Clemson, as Alabama made 44.4% of their 3-point attempts. The Crimson Tide's leading scorer, Mark Sears, played a crucial role in the team's 3-point success. Despite starting the game 0-for-4 from deep, he found his rhythm and made several key 3-pointers, including one created by a defensive mistake from Clemson's Chase Hunter.
In addition to Sears, other Alabama players stepped up and made important shots from beyond the arc. Rylan Griffen, for example, made several key 3-pointers, including one to stop a Clemson run and keep the Tide in the game. Aaron Estrada also contributed, making a 3-pointer and providing assists on several other occasions. Alabama's balanced attack and ability to share the ball created open looks for their shooters, leading to their high percentage from 3-point range.
Alabama's 3-point shooting was a key factor in their victory over Clemson and their advancement to the Final Four. The Crimson Tide's ability to make shots from long range kept Clemson's defence guessing and prevented them from establishing any momentum. The individual skill of Alabama's players, combined with their analytical approach to shot selection, created a potent offensive attack that Clemson struggled to contain. As a result, Alabama was able to overcome their slow start and secure the win, making history in the process.
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Clemson's first Final Four
Clemson's men's basketball team has never made it to the Final Four. However, in 2024, they made it to the Elite Eight for the first time since the 1980 NCAA Tournament. Their win over Arizona was the first in Clemson's history, and it put the Tigers into the Elite Eight. If they had won their game against Alabama on Saturday, March 31, 2024, they would have advanced to the Final Four for the first time.
Clemson's men's soccer team has made it to the Final Four four times, including two championship game appearances. The first Final Four appearance was in 1984, and the second was in 1987. The 1987 Final Four was played on one of the team's home fields, as Clemson had defeated Rutgers in Piscataway, NJ, to qualify. Clemson's men's soccer team won the national championship in 1984 and 1987.
Clemson's football team won the national championship in 1981, and the men's golf program won its first NCAA title in 2003.
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Frequently asked questions
Alabama won the 2024 game, finishing 89-82.
Alabama led 35-32 at halftime.
Clemson built an early 26-13 lead and retook the lead at the beginning of the second half, but Alabama soon stole it back.
Clemson's Chase Hunter and Alabama's Mark Sears and Jarin Stevenson were all key players in the game.
