College Hoops

Jackets Fall to the Panthers, 72-64 – Men’s Basketball — Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Jackets Fall to the Panthers, 72-64 – Men's Basketball — Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

THE FLATS – In a game that featured seven lead changes and three ties as neither team built a lead larger than nine, Georgia Tech men’s basketball came up just short, falling 72-64 to Pitt on Tuesday night at McCamish Pavilion.

The Yellow Jackets (9-10, 2-6 ACC) and Panthers (12-7, 3-6 ACC) were largely even the whole night with key free throws late keeping the game out of reach. Tech converted just 39 percent from the field (8-of-25 from three) to Pitt’s 48 percent (8-of-19 from three).

Down 31-27 at the half, the Jackets outscored the Panthers 16-6 to open the second period and opened a 43-37 lead at the 12:54 mark, its largest of the game. Guillermo Diaz Graham, however, knocked down a three-point basket to spark a 9-0 Pitt spurt, and the Panthers outscored Tech 22-7 over the next eight minutes to take control of the game.

Tech was led by Baye Ndongo, who finished with 17 points and eight rebounds. Kyle Sturdivant (14) and Kowacie Reeves (15) also finished in double figures, as did Naithan George (10).

Carlton Carrington, who finished with 19 points, led four Panthers in double digits.

Georgia Tech heads back out on the road for a trip to Virginia Tech on Jan. 27. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. on ACC Network.

Baye Ndongo (11) had team highs of 17 points and eight rebounds for the Jackets. (photo by Danny Karnik)

 

Post-Game Notes

TEAM NOTES

  • Fourteen of Tech’s 19 games this season have been decided by 10 points or fewer, eight of those by five points or fewer. Five of Tech’s six ACC losses have come by single digits, and the fifth was 11 points.
  • Tech is 4-6 against Quad 1 and Quad 2 teams this season. The Jackets’ remaining ACC schedule has five Quad 1 and five Quad 2 opponents. Tech was 3-14 last season against Quad 1/2 foes.
  • Tech is 17-of-52 from three-point range (32.7 percent) in its last two games after hitting 10 or more in four straight games (39.7 percent). The Jackets had nine against Pitt, their fifth game with under 10 this season.
  • Tech has shot under 40 percent in seven games this season, just two of those (Notre Dame, Pitt) in ACC play.
  • Tech has averaged 10.7 turnovers over its last eight games, after averaging more than 19 in the three games prior and 14 over the first 10 games of the season.
  • Tech has four players averaging double digits in ACC games – Baye Ndongo (15.5), Miles Kelly (13.9 ppg), Kowacie Reeves, Jr. (12.9) and Naithan George (10.5).
  • Miles Kelly and Kowacie Reeves, Jr., are the only Tech players to start every…

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