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Rivers leads Tigers to second NIT title game

Mar 28, 2007 - 5:08 AM NEW YORK (Ticker) -- K.C. Rivers is finding this postseason very much to his liking.

Rivers had 19 points and six rebounds and South Region champion Clemson held off a late charge for a 68-67 victory over Air Force to advance to the NIT championship game.

The 6-5 sophomore guard hit five 3-pointers for the second straight game. In the tournament, he has averaged 19.3 points and 6.5 rebounds, up considerably from his regular-season averages of 13.7 and 4.5, respectively.

Following a 3-pointer by David Potter, Clemson (25-10) led by 10 with 2:15 left in the game. Air Force (26-9) proceeded to outscore the Tigers, 12-3, the rest of the way, capped by a steal off an inbounds pass and 3-pointer by Dan Nwaelele with three seconds left. Following a timeout, the Tigers inbounded the ball without incident to preserve the one-point win.

The Tigers' 25 wins matches the school record set in 1986-87.

Clemson will meet West Virginia on Thursday for championship.