November 28, 2014

@GTMBK Beats Rider 61-54 in Orlando Classic

Nov. 28, 2014

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) – Charles Mitchell had 15 points and 12 rebounds as Georgia Tech beat Rider 61-54 Friday night in a consolation round game at the Orlando Classic.

Demarco Cox and Marcus Georges-Hunt scored 10 points apiece for Georgia Tech (4-1).

Matt Lopez tied his career-high with 13 points for Rider (2-4).

Georgia Tech used an 11-0 run early in the second half to take a 41-32 lead. Quinton Stephens hit a long-range jumper and Mitchell had two baskets during the surge. Rider got within 47-46 with 7 minutes remaining on layups by Zedric Sadler and Teddy Okereafor.

Mitchell scored the next five points, including a 3-point play, to make it 52-46 with 5 1/2 minutes remaining.

Lopez’s base-line shot cut the Rider deficit to 56-52 with 2 minutes to go.

Lopez had nine first-half points to help Rider tie Georgia Tech 30-30 at the half. After Lopez made it 30-28 with 23 seconds left, Cox got Georgia Tech even on an in-close basket in the final seconds of the half.

Rider trailed by as many as eight during the opening 20 minutes.

Okereafor scored seven points, while fellow guard Jimmie Taylor had five. The pair entered averaging a combined 20 points.

Taylor (1 for 12, three points) and Okereafor (1 for 11, four points) were a combined 2 for 23 from floor and had seven points in Thursday’s 77-45 loss to No. 20 Michigan State.

TIP-INS

Rider: This was just the third meeting between the teams, with Rider winning the previous two games in the 1930-31 and 1933-34 seasons. … Lopez set a career-high with 14 points in Thursday’s game.

Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets were beaten in Thursday’s first round 72-70 by Marquette. … Georgia Tech is 4-1 for the third straight year. … Georgia Tech led at halftime in each of its four previous games this season.

UP NEXT

Rider: Meets Santa Clara in the seventh-place game Sunday.

Georgia Tech: Plays Rhode Island in Sunday’s fifth-place game.