Chase Hunter: ‘I Will do Anything for This Team’ Clemson’s leading scorer came up big for Clemson Thursday when it needed him the most

CHARLOTTE — Though No. 10 Clemson did not shoot the ball well in Thursday’s ACC Quarterfinal victory over SMU, it did get back its best player.

Guard Chase Hunter scored a game-high 21 points in leading No. 3 seed Clemson to a 57-54 victory over No. 6 seed SMU at the Spectrum Center.

Hunter was especially good in the second half, as he scored 15 of his 21 points after halftime.

“Full trust of him. There’s a reason he’s First Team All-ACC,” froward Ian Schieffelin said. “We’ve gone to him all year. He’s delivered all year. And when he has the ball, we have full trust in him. We know he’s going to make the right play.”

SMU (23-10) led most of the second half, but when the Tigers need him the most, Hunter took over the basketball game. He scored 15 of Clemson’s last 22 points.

Hunter connected on 5 of 9 shots in the second half, including a drive through the lane, where he stopped and hit a turnaround jumper to put Clemson up by four, 56-52, with less than two minutes remaining.

“Everybody has full trust in him, from players to staff, and we know if the ball is in his hand, we can trust whatever he’s about to do,” guard Jaeden Zackery said. “That’s what he did at the end, and he finished the game out for us.”

Hunter finished his night 7 of 13 from the field and made two three-pointers as well.

Over the last two weeks and leading up to the ACC Tournament, Hunter has struggled with his shooting, though in large part it was due to a calf strain that limited his ability to play at the same high level he always plays with.

However, thanks to the Tigers’ double-bye into the quarterfinals, Hunter was able to rest his leg and do more rehab. He said after Thursday’s win he is about 90 percent healthy, which showed with his ability to chase down three shooters and block their shots.

“I have been getting some good treatment and I have been going to rehab,” Hunter said. “Once I step on the floor, the adrenaline gets me through. I am a competitor. I want to be out there helping these guys.

“I will do anything for this team.”

And that is what they love about Hunter. It is never about himself.

“It felt good to get back on track,” Hunter said. “To help our team win a big game in such a big moment, it felt good.”