Chase Hunter took over in the final minutes to lift Clemson past SMU on Thursday. The Tigers (27-5) won 57-54 and will face Louisville next.

SMU has been a middle-of-the-pack defensive team all season in the ACC and relied on its 3-point shooting and offensive ability to carry it to its 23-9 record. But down the stretch of the season, the Mustangs have progressed on their weaker side of the ball — and put together one of their best performances of the season Thursday.

Chase Hunter scored 21 points, Jaeden Zackery added 11 points and No. 10 Clemson battled back to beat SMU 57-54 for its ninth straight win to reach the Atlantic Coast Conference semifinals.