THE FLATS – Deebo Coleman tied the game at the free-throw line with 28 seconds left in regulation, but Georgia Tech’s offense went cold in overtime and the Yellow Jackets fell 72-68 to Notre Dame on Saturday night at McCamish Pavilion.
The Yellow Jackets (6-8, 0-4 ACC) were held to just two field goals in the extra period, as the Fighting Irish (9-5, 3-1 ACC) hit two consecutive three pointers to drive out ahead. Tech pulled it within two with 10 seconds left, but wouldn’t be able to climb back ahead.
Jordan Usher led the Jackets with his fourth double-double of the season and first of his career in league play. He hauled down a career-best 14 rebounds to go along with 16 points. Michael Devoe scored a team-high 20 points while also grabbing six rebounds and Kyle Sturdivant tallied 10 points.
Notre Dame was led by Blake Wesley, who recorded a game-high 22 points to go along with seven rebounds. His final field goal was a three-pointer that put the Fighting Irish ahead 62-61 with under a minute left in regulation. Prentiss Hubb and Nate Laszewski hit back-to-back threes that broke a 64-all tie in overtime, giving Notre Dame a lead it would not relinquish.
Georgia Tech returns to the road when it takes on Boston College on Wednesday, Jan. 12. Tipoff is set for 9 p.m. and will be broadcast live on the ACC’s Regional Sports Networks.
Michael Devoe (0 – above) scored a team-high 20 points, while also grabbing six rebounds in Georgia Tech’s 72-68 loss to Notre Dame on Saturday night. (photo by Danny Karnik)
Post-Game Notes
- Six of Georgia Tech’s last seven losses have been to teams that were in the top 60 of the KenPom rankings and have a combined 2021-22 record of 81-17. The Jackets have already played four of the top five teams in the current ACC standings.
- The nine ACC meetings between Georgia Tech and Notre Dame at McCamish Pavilion have been decided by a total of 32 points, with the largest margin being a 74-69 Irish victory in the very first on Jan. 11, 2014. Tonight was the first overtime game of the lot.
- Tech played its second overtime game of the season and fell to 1-1 (Tech defeated Georgia State, 72-62, on Dec. 21).
- Tech had its first halftime lead since the Georgia State game on Dec. 21 and its first halftime lead in an ACC game this season. The Jackets are 5-2 when leading at the half this season.
- Tech utilized 10 players in the game, and eight of them made the scoring column (all but the two centers).
- Tech’s last four opponents have shot 30 percent from three-point range combined (24-of-80).
- Tech has averaged 12.4 turnovers over its last five games (14.1 over its first nine) and just 11.1 over its four ACC games.
- Tech has shot 78.3 percent from the foul line over its last four games (47-of-60).
- Tech’s has shot under 40 percent in four of its last five games, the lone exception being 41.1 percent vs. Louisville. The Jackets have connected on 36.8 percent combined in those five games.
- Tech has reached the 70-point mark just once in its last nine games, and that required overtime (72-62 over Georgia State on Dec. 21).
- Tech has made 30 threes in its last four games after connecting on 20 in the four games prior. The Jackets are 30-for-93 combined (.322) in its last four games, and 27-for-87 combined (.310) in its four ACC games.
- Tech outrebounded its first ACC opponent (40-38 vs. Notre Dame), but to no avail. The Jackets has been outrebounded in five of their last seven games and has been beaten on the boards in its three ACC games by an average of 8.0.
- ACC leading scorer Michael Devoe has scored 20 or more points eight times this season (20 vs. Notre Dame) and has reached double figures in 22 of his last 23 games. Devoe has reached double figures in points 71 times in his career. He has scored 20 or more points 28 times.
- Devoe moved into 20th place in all-time scoring at Georgia Tech with 1,423 points, surpassing Lenny Horton (1,411 from 1977-80). He needs seven to pass former teammate Jose Alvarado (1.429 from 2017-21) for 19th
- Devoe has hit a three-point field goal in his last 23 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. The sharpshooter went 1-for-6 from distance against Notre Dame and has connected on 42.4 percent this season. He is 9-of-29 in ACC games.
- Jordan Usher has four double-doubles this season after notching 16 points and a career-high 14 rebounds against Notre Dame. It was his first career double-double in an ACC game. He added six assists.
- Usher has scored in double digits 11 times in 14 games this season, and has done so in six straight games after missing in the three previous games. The senior has averaged 16.8 points over the last six games (35-64 FG, 12-25 3pt FG).
- Usher is 28 points away from 1,000 for his collegiate career. The 6-7 guard/forward has 972 career points, 698 of them in a Tech uniform.
- Kyle Sturdivant has five double-figure scoring games this season after tallying 10 against Notre Dame. The junior guard had scored a career-high 17 against Charleston Southern, 11 against Georgia Southern, 12 against Georgia State and 14 vs Louisville. It was his sixth double-digit game in a Tech uniform (15 last season vs. Kentucky).
- Sturdivant played a career-high 37:58 against Notre Dame without committing a turnover, and had just three turnovers (all vs. Duke) in Tech’s last three games covering more than 84 minutes.
- Khalid Moore has averaged 7.8 points over his last eight games (24-48 FG) after averaging just 3.8 over the first six.
Freshman Deebo Coleman (10 – above) tied the game at the free-throw line with 23 seconds remaining to send the game to overtime. (photo by Danny Karnik)
