Diggs’ Late Free Throw Lifts Voorhees Past Clinton, 69-68

DENMARK, S.C. — Kayden Diggs hit a free throw with one second remaining to lift Voorhees University to a 69-68 victory over Clinton College (S.C.) on Friday night, capping a tense finish after the Tigers saw a 15-point halftime lead nearly slip away.

Voorhees led 47-32 at the break after a dominant first half in which the Tigers shot efficiently from the field and from beyond the arc. Tim Smith powered the early surge, finishing with a team-high 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting, including three 3-pointers. The Tigers went 8-for-20 from long range and shot 42.9% overall, building what looked like a comfortable margin.

Clinton changed the tone after halftime, tightening defensively and chipping away at the deficit behind an aggressive offensive attack. The visitors outscored Voorhees 36-22 in the second half, forcing 26 Tigers turnovers overall and turning pressure into points. Jordan Edmond sparked the rally with 13 points on 4-of-6 shooting and seven rebounds, highlighted by a dunk with 1:59 left that cut the Voorhees lead to 67-61.

Clinton’s defense keyed the comeback as Kipp Richvine finished with 11 points, seven steals and three assists, helping limit Voorhees’ offensive rhythm. Jordan Snipes Campbell added 14 points, hitting a 3-pointer with 1:21 remaining to pull Clinton within 67-64. After more late-game exchanges, Campbell drilled a jumper with five seconds to play, tying the game at 68-68 and putting pressure squarely back on Voorhees.

On the final possession, the Tigers drew a foul and turned to Diggs, who had contributed on the glass throughout the night. Diggs, who finished with four points and five rebounds, stepped to the line and converted one of two free throws with 0:01 on the clock to push Voorhees back in front. Clinton’s final hope at a desperation play came up empty as the Tigers held on for the one-point win.

Voorhees owned a 40-36 edge on the boards and matched Clinton at the foul line, going 19-for-34 to Clinton’s 17-for-30. The Tigers also recorded eight steals and four blocks, using key defensive stops early to help build the first-half cushion that ultimately allowed them to withstand Clinton’s late surge.

The narrow victory gives the Tigers a hard-earned home win in Denmark and a reminder of the importance of closing out late-game situations. Voorhees will look to build on the strong first-half performance and tighten ball security moving forward as the schedule continues into the heart of the season.