Lakhin Shines on Senior Day as Clemson Wins Historic 26th Game

Viktor Lakhin scored 16 points in Clemson's 65-47 Senior Day win over the Virginia Tech Hokies. (Photo By Charles Mays/Tiger View Media)

The Clemson Tigers improved to 26-5 overall on the season and 18-2 in ACC play, while the Virginia Tech Hokies fell to 13-18 overall and 8-12 in conference play. Viktor Lakhin was the X-factor for Clemson, leading the way with 16 points, seven rebounds, and two steals on 7-for-13 shooting from the field.

Clemson's defense was suffocating, allowing only 47 points on the night and forcing the Hokies into 23 turnovers. This 26th win for the Tigers is the most in program history, breaking a tie with Cliff Ellis' 1986-87 team.

Tigers Dominate Early to Take Commanding Lead

The Clemson Tigers got off to a perfect start against Virginia Tech, shooting 2-for-2 from the field and forcing a Hokies turnover to take an early 4-0 lead. The Tigers kept the pressure on, holding an 11-7 advantage at the under-16 timeout, thanks to a Jaeden Zackery three-pointer.

Out of the timeout, freshman Del Jones took control, using his shifty layup and steal to jump-start Clemson's offense. Jones has been Brad Brownell's spark all year, with his fast-paced play igniting the Tigers.

A Jake Heidbreder steal and contested layup capped off an 8-0 Clemson run, pushing the lead to 10 points. The momentum continued as a Viktor Lakhin slam extended the Tigers' lead to 27-14, forcing Virginia Tech head coach Mike Young to call a timeout with 8:30 left in the first half.

Clemson struggled offensively out of the timeout, enduring a four-minute scoring drought until Christian Reevesfinally got the Tigers back on the board. At the under-4 timeout, Clemson maintained a 31-16 lead as both teams struggled to score.

Virginia Tech finally broke through with a Brandon Rechsteiner three-pointer, cutting the Tigers' lead to 12 points. However, Viktor Lakhin continued his strong play, grabbing an offensive rebound and scoring his 12th point of the night, putting Clemson up by 15.

At halftime, Clemson led 35-20, with their defense being the main contributor, forcing the Hokies into 14 first-half turnovers.

Second Half: Clemson Stays in Control

Both teams started the second half sloppy, committing a combined five turnovers within the first two minutes. Despite the sluggish start, Ian Schieffelin fired up the Littlejohn Coliseum crowd with a tough and-one, extending the Tigers’ lead to 17 points early in the second period.

At the under-16 timeout, Clemson led 44-25, with their defense continuing to dominate. The Hokies shot just 2-for-7from the field and committed three turnovers in the first five minutes.

Out of the timeout, Virginia Tech knocked down back-to-back threes, cutting the deficit to 15 points. However, Chauncey Wiggins, making his first start since February 4th, responded with a putback slam, pushing Clemson's lead back to 18 points.

Clemson Overcomes Cold Shooting to Seal the Win

Out of the under-8 timeout, Clemson struggled from three-point range, shooting just 2-for-17 from beyond the arc after a Jake Heidbreder miss from the top of the key. Fortunately, Virginia Tech couldn’t capitalize, as their offensive struggles continued.

Heading into the under-4 timeout, Clemson led 60-44, with victory within reach. The Tigers closed strong, securing a 65-47 Senior Day win over Virginia Tech.

Both teams will now shift their focus to the ACC Tournament, which begins Tuesday, March 11.