CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) - Damarcus Harrison scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half and Clemson used a late 12-2 run to beat Belmont 73-68 Tuesday night and reach the NIT semifinals at Madison Square Garden.
It was the 12th straight NIT home game won by the Tigers (23-12), who advanced to New York for the second time in as many appearances in the tournament. Clemson lost in the title game to West Virginia in 2007.
Clemson will play either SMU or California.
The Tigers trailed 66-61 with 3:52 left after the second of Craig Brad Shaw's consecutive 3-pointers. Rod Hall began the rally with a three-point play Harrison followed with five straight points to put Clemson ahead 69-68. After a Belmont turnover, Hall hit a driving layup for a 71-68 lead and the Bruins could not respond.
Bradshaw had 21 points to lead Belmont (26-10), which missed its final four shots.
MINNESOTA 81, SOUTHERN MISS 73
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Austin Hollins scored a career-high 32 points to lead Minnesota to a spot in the NIT semifinals.
Hollins, playing in his school-record 139th game, scored 12 straight points in a span of 1:42 to erase an eight-point first-half deficit. He made all 10 of his foul shots, including six straight in the final 48.1 to hold off the Golden Eagles, who had closed to within 78-73.
Joey King scored 15 and Maurice Walker added 12 for Minnesota (23-13), which is in the NIT semifinals for the second time in three years and seventh overall.
The Golden Gophers play Florida State or Louisiana Tech Tuesday at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Southern Mississippi (29-7), who was led by Neil Watson's 16 points, lost in the NIT quarterfinals for the second straight year.
USM tied a school record with 29 victories.