Nick Davidson’s Late Free Throws Lift No. 20 Clemson Past Stanford 66 to 64 in ACC Road Test

Stanford, California -- No. 20 Clemson continued its strong Atlantic Coast Conference road form Wednesday night, edging Stanford 66 to 64 at Maples Pavilion after Nick Davidson converted two free throws with 24.9 seconds remaining to secure the latest breaking update in the ACC standings.

Davidson finished with a team high 16 points and seven rebounds as Clemson improved to 19 and 4 overall and 9 and 1 in conference play. The Tigers held on despite missed opportunities in the final two minutes as both teams struggled to convert at the free throw line during a tense closing sequence.

Clemson leading scorer RJ Godfrey missed two free throws with 1 minute and 31 seconds remaining that would have extended the Tigers lead, then committed a foul on the defensive end. Stanford failed to capitalize when Oskar Giltay missed the front end of a one and one with 1 minute and 17 seconds left, keeping the score tied before Davidson’s decisive trip to the line.

The victory marked Clemson’s 13th straight ACC road win dating back to the 2024 25 season, a streak that ranks fourth longest in league history and ties the longest ACC road run over the past 25 years. Under head coach Brad Brownell, Clemson has become one of the conference’s most reliable road teams, a key factor shaping its postseason outlook.

Stanford was led by Aidan Cammann with 19 points, while freshman Ebuka Okorie added 18. Okorie entered the game averaging 21.8 points per contest, ranking third among Division I freshmen and tenth nationally. He scored 12 points in the first half on 4 of 7 shooting as the Cardinal carried a 32 to 30 lead into halftime.

Stanford fell to 14 and 9 overall and 3 and 7 in ACC play, dropping its fifth straight game since a January 14 win over then No. 14 North Carolina. The latest timeline reflects a challenging stretch for the Cardinal, who have faced ranked opponents at home in four of their last five games.

Despite the recent losses, Stanford’s two Top 25 home wins this season against Louisville on January 2 and North Carolina earlier this month matched the program’s highest total of ranked victories in a single season since 2013 14. Head coach Jerod Haase has leaned heavily on freshman production during this stretch as the roster continues to adjust to ACC competition.

Before tipoff, Stanford held a moment of silence to honor longtime baseball coach Mark Marquess, who passed away Friday. Marquess spent more than four decades leading the Cardinal program and remains one of the most influential figures in Stanford athletics history.

What this means moving forward is clear. Clemson’s road consistency strengthens its NCAA tournament profile and positions the Tigers as a contender for a top four seed in the ACC tournament. Stanford continues to search for late game execution as it navigates a demanding conference schedule.

Next steps come quickly. Clemson travels to California on Saturday night looking to extend its ACC road streak. Stanford remains at Maples Pavilion to host Georgia Tech as the Cardinal attempt to halt their slide and regain momentum in conference play.