NEWS
By Bud L. Ellis
Down just two points early in the second half, Georgia Tech knew it was on thin ice in its hopes to advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
Its top two players in foul trouble, its 3-points baskets not falling, its turnovers piling up, Tech’s hopes finally came apart as Ohio State broke loose on a 14-2 run. A late rally by the Jackets wasn’t enough, Tech’s season ending in the Bradley Center in Milwaukee in a 75-66 loss in round two.
It was a fitting end for a Tech team that struggled with consistency and the weight of expectations this season. The Jackets (23-13) finished with 21 turnovers and hit just 4-of-20 3-point attempts.
Gani Lawal and Derrick Favors both picked up early fouls. Lawal would play just 21 minutes, leading Tech with 11 points. Favors, who fouled out, scored 10. Glen Rice Jr. added 10 points,.
Tech found itself down 46-32 with under 13 minutes to play. The Jackets did run off 11 unanswered points to make it a four-point game inside the two-minute mark, but Ohio State put the game away.
—30—
Monday, March 22, 2010 at 4:33 am by bud
Tags: Bradley Center, Derrick Favors, Gani Lawal, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Glen Rice Jr., NCAA Tournament, Ohio State
By Bud L. Ellis
Georgia Tech has picked the right time for things to come together.
Eight days ago, the Yellow Jackets sat squarely on the NCAA Tournament bubble. But after three wins in three days pushed Tech into the ACC final and into the big dance, the Jackets stepped up yet again Friday night.
Tech used solid defense and poise at the free-throw line to win its first NCAA tourney game in five years, defeating Oklahoma State 64-59 at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee.
“I thought we stayed really disciplined defensively,” Tech coach Paul Hewitt said after the game, in post-game comments posted to the Tech web site. “(We) didn’t foul too much, contested shots, and played a really solid basketball game against a very good team.”
Tech (23-12) advances to the second round to face either Ohio State or UC-Santa Barbara. At stake: a trip to the Sweet 16 next weekend.
Gani Lawal led Tech with 14 points. Derrick Favors added 12 points and nine rebounds. But the big story was Tech’s defense and calm under pressure, two areas where the Jackets have struggled through a roller-coaster season. But when it needed it most, Tech tapped into the talent that had many thinking in the preseason this team could play deep into March.
Tech didn’t hit a field goal in the final eight minutes of the game, but buckled down on defense and knocked down the free throws at the finish, living to play again on Sunday.
\—30—
Friday, March 19, 2010 at 9:46 pm by bud
Tags: Bradley Center, Derrick Favors, Gani Lawal, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, NCAA Tournament, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Paul Hewitt, UC-Santa Barbara
By Bud L. Ellis
Georgia Tech this season has beaten Duke this season. Georgia Tech also has lost to Miami this season.
But on a Friday night in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament, the Yellow Jackets put forth a big victory that removes any doubt about whether they will advance to the NCAA tournament.
Iman Shumpert scored a team-best 14 points, and his strip of Greivis Vasquez with six seconds left sparked the final moments of a 69-64 victory that pushed the Jackets into the semifinals of the ACC tourney.
Shumpert got the ball away from Vasquez, and Tech hit two free throws in the final seconds to move into the ACC semis on Saturday against N.C. State. Maurice Miller added 13 points, Derrick Favors scored 11 with 11 rebounds, and Zach Peacock also scored 11 points for Tech.
The Jackets ran out to a 19-point lead, but saw that advantage evaporate thanks in part to 25 turnovers. But Tech held on at the end to move into the final four of the conference tourney for the first time since 2005.
—30—
Saturday, March 13, 2010 at 11:26 pm by bud
Tags: Atlantic Coast Conference, Derrick Favors, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Greivis Vasquez, Iman Shumpert, Maryland, Maurice Miller, N.C. State, North Carolina, Zach Peacock
By Bud L. Ellis
It’s been a roller-coaster ride for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, but the car more than likely is going to pull into one of 65 spots in the NCAA tournament next week.
The Jackets won’t know for sure until Sunday, but did what needed to be done Thursday night. Derrick Favors made an impressive Atlantic Coast Conference tournament debut as Tech won its 20th game of the season, downing North Carolina 62-58 in the tourney’s opening round at Greensboro Coliseum.
With the win, Tech (20-11) moves on to play Maryland in Friday night’s conference quarterfinals, and probably has clinched a berth in the NCAAs. Tourney bids will be announced Sunday evening.
Favors hit his first seven shots, helping the Jackets overcome an early 13-point deficit. Favors finished with a team-high 18 points, nine rebounds and five blocked shots.
Gani Lawal added 12 points for Tech.
—30—
Friday, March 12, 2010 at 7:04 pm by bud
Tags: Atlantic Coast Conference, Derrick Favors, Gani Lawal, Georgia Tech, Greensboro Coliseum, North Carolina
