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Clemson looking for momentum in ACC tourney

Mar 12, 2009 - 5:52 AM (18) Clemson (23-7) vs. Georgia Tech (11-18), 2:30 p.m. EDT

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- After struggling down the stretch, 18th-ranked Clemson faces Georgia Tech on Thursday in the first round of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament.

The Tigers (23-7) dropped three of their last four regular-season games, including a 96-88 defeat at Wake Forest on Sunday. Following a 15-0 start, Clemson went just 8-7 in its final 15 games to tie for fifth in the ACC.

The setback at Wake Forest cost Clemson a bye in the opening round of the ACC tournament and set up a contest against last-place Georgia Tech (11-18).

The Tigers swept the season series against Georgia Tech, winning 73-59 at home on January 25 and 81-73 at Atlanta on February 22. Clemson junior forward-center Trevor Booker recorded double-doubles in both wins over the Yellow Jackets.

Georgia Tech played well in its regular-season finale but came away with a 67-66 defeat at Boston College on Saturday. The Eagles' Rakim Sanders hit a 15-footer with 1.7 seconds left for the winning points.

Georgia Tech won only two conference games all season and dropped eight of its last nine regular-season contests. The only win during that stretch was a 78-68 victory over Miami on March 4.