ACC announces punishment for David Collins after flagrant foul vs. Duke

Clemson will be without guard David Collins against Notre Dame on Saturday.

The ACC suspended Collins for one game after his flagrant foul on Duke’s Wendell Moore Jr., the league announced Friday. The foul occurred late in the first half of Duke’s 82-64 victory over Clemson on Thursday night and the officials ruled it a flagrant 2. That led to Collins’ ejection from the contest.

Moore fell hard, but stayed in the game. He finished with eight points and eight assists in 33 minutes of action.

Collins ranks third on Clemson’s roster with 10.5 points per game this season. The Tigers are also without Hunter Tyson against Notre Dame, meaning they’ll be down two players who average double figure points per game. Collins took to Instagram on Friday to talk about the play and said he “was going to try to block it from behind,” but wasn’t able to stop because he was going too fast.

Tip-off between Clemson and ACC-leading Notre Dame is coming up Saturday at 7 p.m. ET on the ACC Network.

David Collins issues statement on flagrant foul against Wendell Moore Jr.

Duke came away with an 82-64 victory over Clemson on Thursday night, but a lot of the attention after the game was on Clemson guard David Collins after a hard flagrant foul on Duke’s Wendell Moore Jr.

Moore was on a fast break late in the first half, and Collins rushed up the court late before a collision. Collins did not appear to make a play for the ball, instead undercutting Moore, resulting in a hard fall after he went up for and made the dunk. He was ejected after the play.

Collins released a statement on his Instagram profile following the flagrant foul, apologizing to Moore and Duke while saying that he was not intending to do what he did.

“I was going to try to block it from behind but I was going too fast and I couldn’t stop, I realized I needed to stop when it was too late,” Collins said about the foul. “I never have been a dirty player. Never. I wish bro a healthy season and I never tried to hurt anybody but I know everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I have respect towards Duke and Clemson and I apologize to everybody for a reckless play. I’m glad Wendell is okay.”