No. 20 Clemson Routs California 77-55, Ties Duke for First Place in ACC

Tigers extend ACC road win streak to 14 games, second-longest in conference history

Feb. 8, 2026 at 12:15am

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The No. 20 Clemson Tigers overwhelmed the California Golden Bears 77-55 on Saturday, moving into a first-place tie with the No. 4 Duke Blue Devils in the Atlantic Coast Conference standings. Clemson's Ace Buckner and RJ Godfrey each scored 13 points, while the Tigers shot 55.1% from the field and 46.2% from 3-point range. The win extended Clemson's ACC road win streak to 14 games, tied for the second-longest in conference history.

Why it matters

This victory puts Clemson in a prime position to contend for the ACC regular season title, as they now sit tied for first place with the highly-ranked Duke Blue Devils. The Tigers' dominant road performance also highlights their defensive prowess, as they held Cal to just 20 points in the first half.

The details

Clemson overwhelmed California from the start, going on a 23-1 run in the first half to take a commanding 32-14 lead. The Tigers shot the ball extremely well, connecting on 27 of their 59 field goal attempts and 12 of 26 from 3-point range. Cal was without starting center Lee Dort, who missed his fourth straight game due to injury.

  • Clemson and Duke meet in Durham, North Carolina next Saturday (February 15, 2026).
  • Clemson's 14-game ACC road win streak is tied for the second-longest in conference history.

The players

Ace Buckner

A Clemson player who scored 13 points in the win.

RJ Godfrey

A Clemson player who also scored 13 points in the victory.

Justin Pippen

The leading scorer for California with 19 points.

Lee Dort

The California center who missed his fourth straight game due to injury.

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What’s next

Clemson and Duke will face off in a crucial ACC matchup next Saturday in Durham, North Carolina.

The takeaway

Clemson's dominant road performance against California showcases their defensive prowess and ability to win away from home, putting them in prime position to contend for the ACC regular season title alongside the highly-ranked Duke Blue Devils.