Clemson — In a recent game against Miami, Clemson basketball junior center Carter Welling delivered a play that caught the attention of head coach Brad Brownell. The moment occurred in the first half when guard Dillon Hunter drew a double team in the right corner against Miami’s zone defense with just a minute left on the clock. Hunter passed the ball to Welling, who had already made two three-pointers earlier in the game. Welling used a pump fake to create space and found center Nick Davidson for an open layup in the paint.

“Great play,” Brownell said. “It’s one of the many things that our team does well. Our big guys are good passers, and they’re willing passers.”

This kind of teamwork was evident throughout No. 21 Clemson’s 69-59 victory over Miami on January 17 at Littlejohn Coliseum. The Tigers (16-3, 6-0 ACC) extended their winning streak to nine games and secured their sixth consecutive ACC win, solidifying their position as a strong contender for the NCAA tournament for the third straight season.

Carter Welling stats for Clemson basketball

Welling was the standout performer in the game, leading Clemson in scoring with a season-high 18 points. He shot 6-of-10 from the field, grabbed nine rebounds, and recorded one assist. His performance included two three-pointers, which showcased his shooting ability, and he used his 6-foot-11, 240-pound frame to dominate inside the paint.

Welling leveraged his size to create scoring opportunities and his athleticism to pursue rebounds, contributing four second-chance points through two offensive rebounds.

“Tonight was my night, and I had it going,” Welling said. “It’s credit to just feeding the hot hand, and I think we’ve done a really good job at doing that this year.”

Carter Welling, originally from Draper, Utah, has been a transfer student for three seasons. He began his college career at Cal-Irvine as a freshman and later played at Utah Valley, where he was named the WAC defensive player of the year.

Welling started the season as Clemson’s backup center but improved defensively, eventually earning spot starts and becoming a permanent member of the starting lineup on December 21 against Cincinnati. Since taking a regular spot in the starting five, he has averaged 10.7 points, seven rebounds, and a steal per game.

The unpredictability of Clemson’s offense, with different players stepping up each game, makes it difficult for opponents to prepare. During its nine-game winning streak, six different players have led the team in scoring.

“Today, it was Welling, where two nights ago, it was (Nick) Davidson,” said Miami coach Jai Lucas. “(Brownell) just has people that he can plug in, and he doesn’t have to change how he plays, and they can just continue to play no matter who’s on the court.”

Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at DCarter@usatodayco.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00.