Dec. 17, 2012
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Carter, Jr., Post-gqme Interview
ATLANTA (AP) – Brandon Reed scored 14 points, Robert Carter Jr. added 13 with 11 rebounds, and Mfon Udofia pitched in 12 points on 3-point shots Monday evening to lead Georgia Tech over overmatched Alabama State 75-41.
The Yellow Jackets (7-2) had no trouble with the Hornets (1-9) while moving to 5-0 in their new arena.
Georgia Tech led 40-20 at halftime and by as many as 35 points in the second half, when coach Brian Gregory used every player available. That included highly touted freshman point guard Solomon Poole, who joined the team Saturday fresh out of high school.
One of the biggest cheers in McCamish Pavilion came with 4:20 left when freshman walk-on guard Brooks Doyle’s 3-pointer gave Georgia Tech a 72-39 lead.
Bobby Brown and Jamel Waters each scored seven points to lead the Hornet, who made just 15 of 60 shots (25 percent) and were outrebounded 51-30.
The Hornets trailed just 13-10 after Brown hit a 3-pointer with 12:03 left in the half. But from there, the Yellow Jackets scored the next nine points to start a 19-2 run.
Udofia led the way. The senior from Stone Mountain made all three of his 3-point tries in the half, and the Yellow Jackets took a 40-20 lead into the break.
Georgia Tech’s starters combined to shoot 63.7 percent (14 of 22) in the opening half, center Daniel Miller blocked three shots and the Yellow Jackets had 13 assists by halftime, bettering their season average of 12.4 per game. They finished with 20 assists, a team-high under Brian Gregory.
Alabama State made just 8 of 30 shots (26.7 percent) in the first half and were beaten 22-15 on the boards.
Little changed in the second half, and after the Yellow Jackets opened a 65-33 lead on a breakaway layup by Marcus Georges-Hunt off an Alabama State turnover, Gregory called time out with 6:52 left.
He soon began deploying walk-ons and even Poole at the 6:10 mark. Poole joined the team Saturday about a week after graduating from North Florida Educational Institute in Jacksonville. One of the nation’s top high school prospects, Poole finished with two points, two rebounds and an assist.
His older brother, Stacey, will be eligible to play Saturday against The Citadel after sitting out one calendar year following his transfer last winter from Kentucky.
Junior forward Jason Morris was not in uniform for Georgia Tech. He’s struggling with a foot injury.
