THE FLATS – Jordan Usher scored a career-high 30 points, including nine in overtime, as Georgia Tech rallied late from a six-point deficit and outlasted Georgia State in overtime, 72-62, Tuesday night at McCamish Pavilion.
The Yellow Jackets (6-5), who snapped a four-game losing streak, had scored just 19 points in the final 21:58 of regulation to squander a 15-point lead. But Usher came to the rescue, making two free throws with 10 seconds left in regulation to send the game to overtime, then scored nine of Georgia Tech’s 13 points in the extra period to help the Yellow Jackets avenge last season’s 123-120 four-overtime loss to the Panthers.
Tech led 40-25 with 1:58 to go in the first half on Tuesday, but went ice-cold from that point, scoring just six points over the next 14 minutes. The cold streak sparked a 27-6 GSU run that spanned both halves and left the Jackets trailing 52-46 with less than eight minutes to go in the game. Tech had 11 turnovers and made just three field goals during the Panthers’ 27-6 spurt.
The Yellow Jackets never regained the lead the rest of regulation, but Usher made three free throws in the final 78 seconds, including both attempts with 10 seconds remaining to knot the score at 59-59. The Jackets then forced an off-balance three-point attempt by GSU’s Corey Allen in the waning seconds that was off the mark. Usher grabbed the rebound and the game went to overtime.
The extra period was all Usher. The senior scored seven of the first nine points of overtime, including a pair of three-pointers, as the Jackets opened with a 9-0 run that gave them a commanding 68-59 lead just 2:10 into the period. From there, Tech’s lead never shrunk to less than eight the rest of the way.
Usher made 8-of-14 shots from the field, including 5-of-6 from three-point range, and 9-of-10 shooting from the foul line. He also grabbed 11 rebounds for his third double-double of the season.
Kyle Sturdivant and Khalid Moore scored 12 and 11 points, respectively, to round out three Yellow Jackets in double figures. In the most extensive playing time of his young career, sophomore Jordan Meka grabbed seven rebounds, blocked two shots, dished out two assists and had a team-high plus-minus of plus-18 in a career-high 21 minutes.
The Yellow Jackets prevailed despite allowing GSU to have 35 extra possessions on 23 turnovers and 12 offensive rebounds surrendered.
Allen led Georgia State (6-5) with 15 points.
Georgia Tech returns to action on Thursday when it wraps up the non-conference portion of its regular-season slate at home against Alabama A&M. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. and the contest will be televised nationally on ACC Network.
Jordan Usher notched is third double-double this season, scoring a career-high 30 points and tying his career best with 11 rebounds. (photo by Danny Karnik)
Post-Game Notes
- Georgia Tech and Georgia State have played five overtime periods in their last two meetings. The teams will complete their current three-game contract next season at the Panthers’ new arena.
- Tech made its first six field goal attempts of the game and shot 53.8 percent from the floor in the first half against Georgia State, but finished the game at 39.3 percent. The Jackets have shot 37.5 percent over their last three games.
- Tech went 9-for-22 from three-point range, the most threes since making 12 against Lamar on Nov. 15. The Jackets were 8-for-34 in their last two games.
- Ten Tech players saw action against Georgia State, only the second time this season that as many Jackets played in a game (11 vs. Stetson). Miles Kelly, Saba Gigiberia and Jordan Meka all logged career highs in minutes.
- Tech held Georgia State to 28.2 percent from the floor, a season-low against the Jackets. The Panthers missed 14 straight attempts between the 5:09 mark of the second half and 16 seconds remaining in overtime.
- Tech outrebounded Georgia State 51-33, its highest positive margin of the season on the boards. The Jackets are +3.1 on the boards this season, their best under head coach Josh Pastner.
- Jordan Usher scored a career-high 30 points against Georgia State and has three games this season of 20 or more points, including 21 at Georgia and 24 vs. Charleston Southern in back-to-back games in mid-November.
- Usher has three double-doubles this season, and four for his career, after also matching his career-best with 11 rebounds against Georgia State. His five three-point field goals also tied a career high (Clemson last Jan. 20).
- Usher has scored in double digits eight times in 11 games this season, and has done so in three straight games after missing in the three previous games. The senior has averaged 18.7 points over his last three games (18-37 FG, 7-12 3pt FG).
- Kyle Sturdivant has three double-figure scoring games this season after tallying 12 against Georgia State. The junior guard had scored 17 against Charleston Southern and 11 against Georgia Southern in back-to-back games Thanksgiving week. His seven rebounds were a career best (previous was five).
- Michael Devoe has hit a 3 in his last 20 straight games dating back to last Feb. 10 vs. Virginia. The 2021 ACC Tournament MVP made at least one in 23 of 26 games last season, including the final 10 in a row.
- Devoe failed to reach double figures for the first time this season (8 points, 6 rebounds, fouled out in 30:07) and for the first time since last Feb. 10 vs. Virginia.
- Miles Kelly snapped a personal 0-for-13 streak from three-point range, spanning six games, when he made his first three-point attempt of the game at the 8:53 mark of the first half. His last three came at Georgia on Nov. 19. He went 1-for-3 in the game from distance and is 4-for-25 this season.
- Jordan Meka saw his first action since the Lamar game (game 3) on Nov. 15 (third appearance this season) and played a career-long 21:19, more than his previous three games combined. The sophomore played just one game as a freshman, logging 8:04 against Mercer.
- Saba Gigiberia logged a career high in minutes against Georgia State (13:39). His previous high was 12:42 against Charleston Southern, and his long as a freshman was 10:01.
- Tristan Maxwell saw his first action of the season and scored his first career field goal. It was just the second game of his career. The sophomore missed most of last season recovering from a broken foot, and had not played this year due to a combination of dental problems and the flu.
- Khalid Moore posted his second double-figure game this season (11 vs. Georgia State) and ninth of his career.
Kyle Sturdivant notched his third double-figure game this season with 12 points and a career best seven boards. (photo by Danny Karnik)
