Clemson NIT bound

Clemson gained a top seed on Sunday, but not the one it hoped for earlier in the season.

The Tigers, who were the nation's last Division I unbeaten at 17-0, slumped down the stretch and were relegated to No. 1 seed of the NIT's South region.

Clemson (21-10) will face East Tennessee State (24-9), regular-season champions of the Atlantic Sun Conference, on Wednesday night at Littlejohn Coliseum.

Despite his team losing 10 of its final 14 games, Tigers coach Oliver Purnell said he still thought his team deserved an NCAA tournament bid and was holding out hope until the last NCAA bracket was revealed.