DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Heading east for two more nationally televised matchups, the University of San Francisco men's basketball team (4-1) is set to open play in the Sunshine Slam against Clemson (4-1) on Monday evening at Ocean Center in Daytona Beach.
 
GAME 6 DETAILS:
Date: Monday, Nov. 25, 2024
Time: 3:30 pm PT/6:30 pm ET
Opponent: Clemson (4-1)
Location: Daytona Beach, Fla. / Ocean Center
Watch: CBS Sports Network (Jake Marsh + Mike O'Donnell)
Listen: KNBR 1050
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
 
GAME 7 DETAILS:
Date: Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024
Time: TBD
Opponent: Penn State or Fordham
Location: Daytona Beach, Fla. / Ocean Center
Watch: CBS Sports Network
Listen: KNBR 1050
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
 
DONS AT A GLANCE:

• Suiting up for the second annual USF Legacy in their last time out, San Francisco narrowly fell to Memphis, 68-64, on Thursday, Nov. 21 at Chase Center. For the Dons, Malik Thomas finished with a game-high 25 points, which included going 14-of-17 from the free throw line.
• After pouring in a career-high 28 points against Chicago State, Tyrone Riley IV displayed his full skill set against Memphis as he pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds, which also marked a new career-high for the freshman. Overall, Riley IV ranks eleventh in scoring among Division I freshmen at 16.0 points per game as of Sunday, Nov. 24.
• San Francisco's matchup with Clemson will mark the first time the green and gold will battle an opponent from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) since the Dons upset No. 4 Virginia, 61-60, at the Mohegan Sun Bubbleville Pod in Uncasville, Conn. on Nov. 27, 2020.
• Active on the defensive end to start the season, San Francisco currently ranks 21st in Division I in field goal percentage defense (35.789) heading into the tournament.
• Focusing on the boards, San Francisco is 3-1 this season and 37-4 under Chris Gerlufsen when outrebounding their opponent. 

SCOUTING THE TIGERS:

• In their last time on the hardwood, Clemson took care of business at home as the Tigers routed Radford, 79-51, on Thursday, Nov. 21. Individually, four players finished in double figures for Clemson: Chauncey Wiggins (16 points), Dillon Hunter (15 points), Ian Schieffelin (14 points) and Chase Hunter (10 points).
• Taking on similar opponents to begin the year, Clemson's lone loss this season has come at the hands of Boise State as the Tigers fell on the road in Boise, 84-71, on Sunday, Nov. 17.
• After reaching the Elite Eight last year, Clemson was picked to finish fourth in the Preseason ACC poll, their highest preseason ranking since 2010 when they were picked to finish third. Additionally, Schieffelin and Hunter were both named to the preseason Second Team All-ACC on Oct. 10.
• Staying old through the transfer portal, head coach Brad Brownell brought in a wave of talent from across the country this offseason as Clemson welcomed Jaeden Zackery (Boston College), Viktor Lakhin (Cincinnati), Myles Foster (Illinois State) and Christian Reeves (Duke) to the roster.
• Over the summer, Brownell signed a new five-year, $20 million extension to stay at Clemson through 2029. Already crowned as the winningest coach in program history with 269 victories, the Tigers have reached the NCAA Tournament four times under Brownell, including three times in the past seven seasons. Notably, Clemson reached the Sweet 16 in 2018 and the Elite Eight in 2024 - one of only 24 programs to achieve this feat since 2018.

SCOUTING THE NITTANY LIONS:

• Remaining perfect to begin the new season, Penn State comes into the tournament with an umblemished 5-0 record as the Nittany Lions most recently downed Purdue Fort Wayne, 102-89, at home on Wednesday, Nov. 20.
• Dangerous on all fronts, Penn State currently ranks in the top ten in the country in points per game (98.2, second), steals per game (13.8, third), turnovers forced per game (19.2, seventh) and scoring margin (+31.2, eighth).
• With a win over Fordham on Monday, Penn State would improve to 6-0 for the first time in 25 years (1999-2000). 

SCOUTING THE RAMS:

• Fighting until the final whistle in their last time out, Fordham fell to Drexel at home, 73-71, on Friday, Nov. 22. So far this season, the Rams have recorded victories over Seton Hall (57-56), Binghamton (78-63) and Georgian Court (101-61).
• Looking to turn heads this season, Fordham was picked 14^th out of 15 teams in the A-10 Men's Basketball Preseason Poll. As one of the premier rim protectors in the country, Abdou Tsimbila was one of five student-athletes named to the A-10 Preseason All-Defensive Team.
• Through six games, three Rams are averaging double figures: Jackie Johnson III (19.0), Jahmere Tripp (11.0) and Japhet Medor (10.5).

SERIES HISTORY:

• Monday's meeting between San Francisco and Clemson will mark the first meeting all-time between the two programs.
• If San Francisco and Penn State meet in the championship round of the tournament, Tuesday's matchup would be just the second meeting all-time between the Dons and Nittany Lions. Previously, San Francisco defeated Penn State 89-77 in their lone matchup.
• If San Francisco and Fordham meet on Tuesday, the matchup would also be the second meeting all-time between the Dons and Rams. Previously, Fordham defeated San Francisco, 77-64, in their lone matchup.

FOLLOW US:
For updates and more information on the San Francisco men's basketball program, follow the Dons @USFDonsMBB on Twitter, @USFDonsMBB on Instagram and @USFDonsMBB on Facebook.
 
MERCHANDISE:
Want to dress like the Dons? Get your official San Francisco Dons gear from the University of San Francisco bookstore today! Click here to purchase.
 
SPONSOR US:
The University of San Francisco Athletics Department would like to acknowledge and thank our sponsor - Catholic Charities San Francisco - for their continued support of San Francisco Athletics. Interested in sponsoring the Dons? Please contact Frank Allocco, the Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director of External Relations, at fallocco@usfca.edu or at (415) 422-4561.