By By Associated Press
CLEMSON, S.C. — Jerai Grant scored 18 points and had eight blocks and seven rebounds Wednesday night to lead Clemson past East Carolina 71-59.
Milton Jennings added 13 points and Andre Young had 11 for the Tigers (10-4), who won their fifth straight game.
Xavier Anderson, a 5-foot-9 former walk-on, helped Clemson put the game away with a tip-in basket and a pair of free throws after the Pirates (7-6) cut a 14-point deficit to 58-53 with 5:39 left.
Brock Young led the Pirates with 14 points and Jontae Sherrod added 13.
Clemson led 35-28 at intermission thanks to a 16-0 run late in the opening half.
Demontez Stitt, who had all 10 of his points in the first half, sparked the streak with a 3-pointer followed by a steal and a pass to Tanner Smith for a layup.
East Carolina led by as many as six in the opening half, but struggled against Clemson’s tight man-to-man defense.