Forward Aamir Simms scored 24 points as Clemson downed Purdue 81-70 Thursday night in the championship game of the Space Coast Challenge in Melbourne, Fla.
Simms, who fouled out of the Tigers' season-opening victory against Mississippi State on Wednesday night after scoring only four points, broke out in a big way as Clemson improved to 2-0.
A preseason first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection, Simms made 8-of-13 shots from the floor to lead four Clemson players in double figures.
Guard Nick Honor added 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting while forward Jonathan Baehre scored 11 and guard Al-Amir Dawes had 10.
Honor, a transfer guard from Fordham, had four of Clemson's 13 steals.
Clemson was buoyed by a stingy defense that forced 22 turnovers that helped result in a 21-2 advantage in fast break points.
The game was tied at 48 with 12 minutes remaining before Clemson took command with a 15-3 run that started with a 3-pointer by Baehre and was capped by a 3-pointer by Honor. One night after struggling from beyond the arc, going 5-for-25 against Mississippi State, the Tigers made 10-of-28 shots from long range.
Redshirt freshman guard Brandon Newman led the Boilermakers (1-1) with 15 points on 6-of-14 shooting from the floor, including a 3-of-7 effort from 3-point range. Zach Edey, a freshman center who debuted with a 19-point performance against Liberty on Wednesday, scored 17 points against Clemson, making 6-of-8 shots from the floor.
Guard Isaiah Thompson added 15 points for Purdue while forward Trevion Williams had 10 points and eight rebounds.
Clemson took an early lead thanks to an efficient outside shooting touch. Clemson's first five field goals all came on 3-point shots and the Tigers made 6 of their first 11 attempts from beyond the arc.
Purdue tied the game at 13 on a dunk by Edey with 11:20 left in the half, but the Tigers proceeded to go on an 11-0 run en route to a 36-28 halftime lead.
--Field Level Media
