BAYAMON, Puerto Rico — Clemson players said that after their 94-81 victory over Florida Atlantic on Wednesday they had been looking ahead to a semifinal matchup with UC at the Puerto Rico Holiday Classic.

        The Tigers led by only four points with 17:15 to go before pulling away with a 15-0 run.

        They face the No.22 Bearcats at 4p.m. today, their second game against a ranked opponent this season. Clemson lost to Seton Hall 79-78 on Nov.21.

        “It's exciting,” senior center Adam Allenspach said of facing UC. “I think that was our problem. Everybody was thinking about that so much that we kind of lost our focus.”

        LINEUP SHUFFLE: UC coach Bob Huggins gave Rod Flowers his first start Wednesday against Youngstown State, saying the 6-foot-8 freshman had been practicing well.

        Huggins used 10 players in the first 4 1/2 minutes. The only Bearcat not used was sophomore center B.J. Grove, who never took off his warmups.

        “I'm tired of watching guys go through the motions,” Huggins said. “They're going to play or not play, one or the other.

        “Contrary to what some guys think, you have to earn playing time; it's not given to you. (Grove) said, "What did I do?' I said: "Nothing. You haven't done anything.' It's not what he did, it's what he didn't do.”

        UC started the second half with four first-year players — freshman Field Williams, walk-on Rodney Crawford and juniors Immanuel McElroy and Jamaal Davis — with junior Steve Logan.

        NOTABLE NUMBERS: Junior Antwan Jones had a career-high 16 points, scoring mostly within 15 feet. He missed all three of his 3-point attempts and is now shooting .167 from behind the arc (4-of-24) and .682 from inside the 3-point line (15-of-22).

Bearcats face Tigers minus Logan Newcomers fill void against Youngstown UC notebook

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