Clemson Basketball Finds Strength in Team Unity

Redshirt freshman Ace Buckner steps up in clutch moments to lead Clemson to victory over Stanford

Feb. 6, 2026 at 3:55pm

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Clemson's basketball team has shown a remarkable ability to come together as a team and support each other when key contributors are struggling. In a close game against Stanford, redshirt freshman Ace Buckner made several crucial plays down the stretch, including calmly sinking two free throws in the final seconds to seal the victory. Head coach Brad Brownell praised Buckner's poise and the overall unselfish, hard-working nature of the team, which has propelled Clemson to a 19-4 overall record and 9-1 mark in the ACC.

Why it matters

Clemson's success this season challenges the narrative that the modern era of college basketball, with the rise of the transfer portal and NIL deals, is filled with mercenary players who only care about individual accolades. Instead, Brownell has built a tight-knit, selfless team that has rallied around each other to win games, even when top players are struggling.

The details

In the win over Stanford, several Clemson players stepped up when leading scorer Jestin Porter had an off shooting night. Redshirt freshman Ace Buckner made key plays on both ends of the floor, including a driving layup late in the game and then calmly sinking two free throws in the final seconds to secure the victory. Nick Davidson also had a strong homecoming performance with 16 points and 7 rebounds, while freshman Chase Thompson provided a spark off the bench with 10 points.

  • Clemson was already up two with three seconds left when Buckner was fouled.
  • Buckner drained the first free throw and then the second to seal the 63-60 win over Stanford.

The players

Ace Buckner

A redshirt freshman guard who has emerged as a key contributor for Clemson, making several clutch plays down the stretch to lead his team to victory over Stanford.

Brad Brownell

Clemson's head coach, who has built a tight-knit, unselfish team that has defied the narrative of the modern era of college basketball being filled with mercenary players.

Nick Davidson

A Clemson player who had a strong homecoming performance against Stanford, scoring 16 points and grabbing 7 rebounds.

Chase Thompson

A Clemson freshman who provided a spark off the bench, scoring 10 points in 18 minutes of action.

Jestin Porter

Clemson's leading scorer who had an off shooting night against Stanford, missing 8 of 10 shots from the field.

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What they’re saying

“The strength of our team is just the team. It's kind of been that way. I don't even know if we have an all-conference player. Our guys don't really worry about it, care about it. We just come to work every day and we're a very unselfish, hard-working group. Really proud of them. Great group of kids.”

— Brad Brownell, Clemson Head Coach

“That was a huge play by Buck. He's that kind of guy. He plays the game with great force, leverage, and it was a heck of a move. Heck of a play.”

— Brad Brownell, Clemson Head Coach

What’s next

Clemson will look to continue its strong ACC play as it prepares to face its next conference opponent.

The takeaway

Clemson's basketball team has proven that a selfless, team-first mentality can still thrive in the modern era of college basketball. The Tigers' ability to rally around each other and make winning plays when it matters most is a testament to the culture Brad Brownell has built in Clemson.