November 22, 2021

Jackets Stay Hot, Sink Buccaneers

Box Score Game Book/Play-by-Play Photo Gallery Multimedia Postgame Notes

THE FLATS – Four double-digit scorers led red-hot Georgia Tech men’s basketball past Charleston Southern, 85-70, for its fourth consecutive victory on Monday night at McCamish Pavilion.

The Yellow Jackets’ (4-1) shot near 60 percent from the field for the second-consecutive game (57.4) after shooting 60.1 percent in their win over Georgia. The efficient offense was thanks largely to domination inside as they amassed a 50-30 advantage in the paint.

Georgia Tech’s relentless attack was led by Jordan Usher, who stuffed the stat sheet with 24 points, 10 rebounds and three assists for his third career double-double.

Kyle Sturdivant also pitched in 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting, while Rodney Howard finished a perfect 6-for-6 from the field for a career-high 12 points and five rebounds. Making Howard’s performance more impressive was the fact he picked up his fourth foul with 16:58 left in the game and played the rest of the way. Deivon Smith rounded out Tech’s double-digit performances with 11 points on the night.

The Buccaneers (2-3) featured four double-digit scorers as well, shooting 47.9 percent overall, and were led by Tahlik Chavez, who finished with 14 points and five assists.

Georgia Tech men’s basketball continues its four-game homestand when it hosts in-state foe Georgia Southern on Friday, Nov. 26. Tipoff is scheduled for noon and will be broadcast live on the ACC’s Regional Sports Networks.

Junior Rodney Howard (24 – above) controlled the paint on Monday night, finishing with a career-high 12 points and six rebounds. (photo by Danny Karnik)

Post-Game Notes

TEAM NOTES

Georgia Tech made 11 of its first 14 field goal attempts against Charleston Southern and finished at 57.6 percent on the heels of its 60.7-percent performance at Georgia Friday night.
Four Tech players scored in double digits for the first time this season, with three of them notching collegiate career highs with the Yellow Jackets – Jordan Usher with 24, Kyle Sturdivant with 17 and Rodney Howard with 12. Deivon Smith’s 11 was his best in a Tech uniform.
Tech has posted an offensive efficiency rating (KenPom.com) of 125.3 and 118.7 in its last two games. The Jackets have played over one point per minute in each of its wins this season.
Tech has scored more than 80 points in back-to-back games for just the third time under head coach Josh Pastner. The Jackets did so against Syracuse (84) and Duke (81) late last season, and also against Sam Houston State (81) and Tulane (82) in his first season (2016-17).
After hitting just four 3s in 17 attempts (all by Michael Devoe) against Miami of Ohio, Georgia Tech has gone 33-of-70 (47.1 percent) in the last four games, including 4-of-11 against Charleston Southern.
Georgia became the first team to hit 50 percent from the floor against Georgia Tech (50.9 percent) this season. The Yellow Jackets held Miami to 39.1 percent, Stetson to 35.0 percent and Lamar to 40.4 percent.
Tech used eight players in the game, a season low, and all of them scored.
Tech committed fewer turnovers than its opponent (11 to 15) for the first time this season. The Jackets did so in 21 of 26 games last season.
Tech has outrebounded each opponent this season (32-30) and have a plus-8.2 rebound margin collectively. The Jackets ranked No. 2 in the ACC in rebound margin entering the Charleston Southern game.

INDIVIDUAL HIGHLIGHTS

Michael Devoe, named ACC Player of the Week earlier in the day following his 37-point game at Georgia Friday night, did not play due to flu-like symptoms. Deivon Smith made his first Yellow Jacket start in his place.
Jordan Usher scored a career high 24 points against Charleston Southern. The 6-7 senior tallied 21 Friday night at Georgia, which tied his career high in a Tech uniform. The fifth-year senior scored 22 twice while at Southern California.
Usher also gathered 10 rebounds against the Buccaneers for his second double-double this season and the third of his career.
Dating back to the final six games of the 2020-21 season, Jordan Usher is averaging 16.1 points per game, hitting double figures in 11 straight games. His low point over that stretch was 12 points against Miami of Ohio. The 6-7 senior has averaged 17.2 points and 8.4 rebounds, and hit 52.2 percent from the floor in five games this season.
Kyle Sturdivant posted his second game with double-digit points in a Tech uniform and first since he scored 15 last December 6 against Kentucky at State Farm Arena. The junior guard’s 17 points were a career high.
Both members of Tech’s post tandem scored career highs against Charleston Southern – Rodney Howard with 12 points and Saba Gigiberia with six. It was Howard’s second double-figure game this season.
Howard went 6-for-6 from the floor and has hit 20-of-31 (64.5 percent) for the season.
Howard has overcome severe foul trouble in each of Tech’s last two games but has managed to remain in the game and be productive. The 6-10 junior played 16:36 with four fouls against Georgia before fouling out with 2:11 left, and the final 16:58 against Charleston Southern. At Georgia, he tallied all eight of his points and all seven of his rebounds during that time. He had six points and three boards in the second half of the Charleston Southern game.
Deivon Smith reached double figures for the first time in a Tech uniform (11 points vs. Charleston Southern) and had two assists with no turnovers in 30 minutes. The sophomore guard has 16 assists and seven turnovers in 120 minutes this season.