Clemson will be facing one of the hottest mid-majors in the nation when it takes on New Mexico in the opening round of the West Region of the NCAA Tournament Friday at Memphis’ FedExForum.
No. 11 seed New Mexico (26-9) became the first Mountain West team to win four straight games in the conference tournament to clinch an automatic — and emphatic — bid to the Big Dance last Saturday.
Coach Richard Pitino’s team won three of those four games by double digits and led by as many as 14 at one point in their 68-61 victory over San Diego State in the Mountain West Tournament Championship Game in Las Vegas.
All-Conference guards Jaelen House (28 points) and Jamal Mashburn Jr. (21 points) combined to score 49 points against a San Diego State program that advanced to the NCAA championship game last season and is back in the tournament against this year.
House leads the Lobos with an average of 16 points per game, followed by Mashburn (14.4) and Donovan Dent (14.3).
Despite getting a higher seed than many anticipated, No. 6 seed Clemson (21-11) enters the tournament having dropped three of its last four games, including a 76-55 loss to Boston College that made for a quick exit from the ACC Tournament. The Tigers have been led all season by seniors PJ Hall, Joe Girard and Chase Hunter.
Hall leads the team in scoring with an average of 19 points per game, followed by Girard’s 15.7.
Ian Schieffelin, named the ACC’s Most Improved Player, has averaged 9.5 points and 9.5 rebounds this season.
Series Notes and Recent History
Friday’s game will mark the first ever meeting between the two programs.
Where To Watch
Here’s where Clemson fans can watch, stream and listen to Friday’s first-round NCAA Tournament game against New Mexico.
Date: Friday, March 22
Time: 3:10 p.m. EST
Where: FedExForum
TV Channel: truTV
Live Stream: B/R Sports add-on via Max app (former HBOMAX)
Radio: Clemson Athletic Network | Westwood One Sports (national broadcast) | TuneIn App | SiriusXM (Channel 202)
Broadcast Teams
truTV: Spero Dedes, Jim Spanarkel, Jon Rothstein
Clemson Radio Network: Don Munson, Tim Bourret
Westwood One Sports: John Sadak, Tom Crean