Dec. 23, 2015
THE FLATS – Georgia Tech (8-3) continues its three-game holiday homestand Wednesday night when Colgate (4-6) of the Patriot League comes to McCamish Pavilion for a 7 p.m. contest as the Yellow Jackets make their stretch run of the non-conference schedule.
Complete Game Notes | Purchase tickets | ESPN3 link
In the first-ever meeting between the two schools in men’s basketball, Tech looks to build momentum as the Atlantic Coast Conference schedule approaches. The Yellow Jackets improved to 6-1 at home Monday night with a 75-62 victory over Southeastern Louisiana.
Tech takes a five-day break following Wednesday night’s game, then comes back after Christmas to host Duquesne on Dec. 29.
Colgate has not played since Dec. 13 but has won its last two games over Utica (90-68 on Dec. 10) and New Hampshire (75-59 on Dec.13). The Raiders, who are playing their eighth road game of the season Wednesday night, also own wins over George Mason and UMBC, both on the road.
Radio coverage of the game is provided by the Georgia Tech/IMG Sports Network, and can be heard in Atlanta on 680 the Fan (680 AM and 93.7 FM) as well as nationally on satellite radio (Sirius ch. 119). The game will be streamed live on ESPN3.
TRANSITION POINTS
• Colgate comes to Atlanta as one of the nation’s more prolific three-point shooting teams, averaging 8.5 three-pointers made per game (65th nationally), two more per game than Georgia Tech makes.
• Four Georgia Tech players are scoring in double digits – Marcus Georges-Hunt (14.7 ppg), Charles Mitchell (12.9), Adam Smith (12.1) and Nick Jacobs (10.1). Tech has not finished a season with four or more players averaging in double figures since 2008-09.
• Tech is out-rebounding its opponents by 10.6 per game, which ranks 14th in the nation and No. 2 in the ACC behind Louisville (+16.9). Tech is No. 3 in the ACC and 15th nationally in offensive rebounds per game (15.2).
• Charles Mitchell resumed his double-double ways by getting 14 points and 15 rebounds against Southeastern Louisiana, and leads the nation with 10 double-doubles this season. Mitchell had gone scoreless with just four rebounds in 15 foul-plagued minutes at Georgia Saturday.
• Tech is averaging 78.3 points per game (10th-highest in the ACC), 15 points per game higher than last season, and has hit the century mark twice this season. The Yellow Jackets have connected on 45.5 percent of their field goal tries (No. 11 in the ACC).
• Tech made the first change in its starting lineup Monday, inserting graduate senior forward James White in place of Nick Jacobs. Tech’s starting lineup for the first 10 games had been Josh Heath at point guard, Marcus Georges-Hunt and Adam Smith on the wings, and Nick Jacobs and Charles Mitchell at the post positions. Only Georges-Hunt began his career at Georgia Tech.
• Tech has played at least 10 players in every game this season except VCU (Travis Jorgenson sat with an ankle injury), and played its entire 12-man roster against Cornell, Green Bay and Wofford.
• Mitchell leads the ACC in rebound average (12.2 rpg) and is fifth in field goal percentage (57.7 pct.). Mitchell ranks fifth and 45th, respectively, in the nation in those categories.
• Marcus Georges-Hunt is seventh in the ACC in free throw percentage (85.1) and is 22-for-24 in Tech’s last three games. Of the top 10 in percentage, only Anthony Barber of NC State have been to the line more than Georges-Hunt (63-of-74).
• Georges-Hunt ranks 25th on Tech’s all-time scoring list. He now has 1,289 points and needs 14 to reach 24th-place Michael Maddox (1,303 from 1994-98).
• Adam Smith is fourth in the ACC in three-point field goals made (2.82 per game) and sixth in percentage (42.5). He has made at least one three in every game this season, 15 in his last three games
• Josh Heath is fourth in the ACC in assist-turnover ratio (3.07-1) after dishing a career-high nine assists against one turnover vs. Southeastern Louisiana. Tech’s point guard tandem of Heath and Travis Jorgenson have 71 assists and 21 turnovers for a 3.38-1 ratio. Tech has a 1.31-1 team ratio (8th in the ACC).
• Tech’s top five scorers this season – Marcus Georges-Hunt, Charles Mitchell, Adam Smith, Nick Jacobs and Quinton Stephens – have hit a combined 79.6 percent (132-for-168) of their charity tosses this season.
• Tech has gone 50-for-63 from the line in its last three games (79.4 pct.). As a team, Tech ranks fourth in the ACC at 72.7 percent.
ABOUT GEORGIA TECH MEN’S BASKETBALL
Georgia Tech’s men’s basketball team is beginning its fifth year under head coach Brian Gregory. The Yellow Jackets have been a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference since 1979, won three ACC Championships (1985, 1990, 1993), played in the NCAA Tournament 16 times and played in two Final Fours (1990, 2004). Connect with Georgia Tech Men’s Basketball on social media by liking their Facebook Page, or following on Twitter (@GTMBB).
For more information on Tech basketball, visit Ramblinwreck.com. Tickets for men’s basketball can be purchased here.
