Nov. 14, 2016
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ATLANTA (AP) Tadric Jackson scored 11 consecutive points in the first half and finished with a career-high 20 points on Monday as Georgia Tech beat Southern 77-62.
Ben Lammers added 13 points, 15 rebounds and blocked a career-best nine shots for Georgia Tech (2-0), which had a school record 16 blocks.
On Friday, Lammers registered career highs of 15 points and five blocked shots while grabbing eight rebounds in the Yellow Jackets’ 70-55 season-opening win over Tennessee Tech.
”I told him in the locker room that `If I could give you a big kiss on the cheek right now I would, but you’re too sweaty,”’ Georgia Tech coach Josh Pastner said. ”It was as good as I’ve seen since I’ve been coaching.”
Jackson, who missed the season opener with a hamstring injury, came off the bench to help Tech expanded an 18-16 lead to 29-21. Corey Heyward added a 3-pointer and a free throw to push the margin to 12.
Tech played closer to the pace that Pastner is seeking since leaving Memphis. But after building a 41-25 lead with a 19-4 run to close the first half, the Jackets shot just 40 percent (12-of-30) in the second. They made just 1 of 6 3-pointers and went 11-of-20 from the free-throw line.
Trelun Banks scored 19 points for Southern (0-2), who upset Georgia Tech 93-78 in the only meeting between the programs in the 1993 NCAA Tournament. Shawn Prudhomme added 15.
”The coaches did a great job scouting,” Lammers said. ”One of the reasons I was able to get that many blocks was I knew exactly what every player was going to do.”
Former Jacket Alvin Jones holds the Tech single-game record with 11 blocked shots and also blocked nine shots twice in his Tech career,. Tech’s previous team record of 15 blocked shots was set in a game against University of the South in 1982.
”He’s very strong and physical,” Southern coach Roman Banks said of Lammers. ”I told the guys that he’s a guy who comes to work every day. He packs his lunch, and he brings his helmet. Don’t look for anything fancy from him; he just beats you up for 40 minutes.”
BIG PICTURE
Georgia Tech: Pastner might be pleased with the improved pace, but if the Jackets are going to be competitive this season in the ACC -where they were picked to finish near the bottom – he’s going to need his team to rebound better. The Jaguars led Tech in rebounding until late in the game.
UP NEXT
Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets will stick around for the third of five home games to start the season when they play Ohio on Friday.
