March 6, 2018
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BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Despite two late pushes that cut the deficit to seven and then six under a minute, Georgia Tech men’s basketball couldn’t complete the comeback, falling to Boston College, 87-77, in the first round of the ACC Tournament on Tuesday afternoon.
The Yellow Jackets (13-19) used 18 points off the Eagles’ (18-14) 17 turnovers to keep the deficit manageable, but 47 percent shooting and a 47-37 rebounding advantage for BC made the difference.
Senior Tadric Jackson finished with a game-high 29 points and five assists on the day as Ben Lammers finished with 18 points (10-of-12 from the free-throw line) and six rebounds. Josh Okogie was the other Jacket to score in double figures, tallying 14 points as well as six rebounds.
Sophomore forward Nik Popovic scored a career-high 20 points and Jerome Robinson, runner-up for ACC player of the year, added 19 on 5-of-17 shooting for Boston College. Despite going 2 for 14 from 3-point range, the Eagles never trailed and were in control throughout against a Georgia Tech team that struggled to score all season.
Tadric Jackson had 23 of his 29 points in the second half for the 13th-seeded Yellow Jackets (13-19), who won their final two regular-season games after losing seven straight and 11 of 12. Ben Lammers added 18 points and leading scorer Josh Okogie had 14 on 5-for-20 shooting.
Jordan Chatman chipped in with 13 points for the Eagles, who had lost four of five.
Boston College’s last three ACC Tournament wins have come against Georgia Tech. The previous two were in 2015 and 2012.
After trailing by 10 at halftime, Georgia Tech missed its first nine field-goal attempts in the second half and the Eagles opened their largest lead, 51-31, on Bowman’s three-point play with 13:37 remaining.
The pressing Yellow Jackets forced a flurry of late turnovers and cut the margin to six with 45 seconds left, but Boston College closed it out at the free-throw line.
BC seized control with an early 9-0 run and went into halftime with a 36-26 cushion. Lammers led all scorers with 11 points in the half.
POST-GAME AUDIO FROM COACH PASTNER, JACKSON AND LAMMERS
TIP-INS
Georgia Tech: Freshman point guard Jose Alvarado was unable to play in his return home to Brooklyn. Alvarado started the team’s first 25 games but his season ended Feb. 11 when he dislocated his elbow in a loss to Duke. … Georgia Tech fell to 1-5 at Barclays Center. … Tech leads the all-time series 14-12. Boston College won the only regular-season meeting this year, 80-72 in overtime at home on Feb. 4.
Boston College: Leading rebounder Steffon Mitchell (7.9 rpg) was back in the starting lineup after sitting out the regular-season finale Saturday at Florida State with a hamstring injury. Mitchell grabbed 11 boards in 37 minutes. … Reserve forward Luka Kraljevic did not play after sustaining a head injury at Florida State.
UP NEXT
Georgia Tech: Lammers is gone next season, but the Yellow Jackets look forward to getting a healthy Alvarado back along with fellow freshman Curtis Haywood II (stress reaction in right leg). They can team with Okogie to form a solid backcourt.
Boston College: Looks to avenge an 82-66 loss at N.C. State on Feb. 20.
