Jackets Cruise Past Furman, 82-41

THE FLATS – Georgia Tech saw its highest offensive output of the season on Wednesday afternoon, cruising to an 82-41 victory over Furman inside McCamish Pavilion. Three Yellow Jackets finished with double-figure scoring totals and Tonie Morgan dropped a double-double as Tech improved to 9-3 overall this season.

Georgia Tech saw offensive production from eight Yellow Jackets in the first half, gaining a dominating 42-16 lead at halftime. Kayla Blackshear went 4-for-4 at the free throw line in the final minutes of the first quarter to open Tech’s first double-digit lead before 10 minutes of play expired. A bucket from Avyonce Carter at 7:52 in the second period handed the Jackets a 29-9 advantage and Inés Noguero hit a jumper to close the half for a 42-16 lead. Bianca Jackson led all scorers with 12 points in the first half, hitting two three-pointers, while Morgan set a new personal-best in assists through just the first half with six.

The Yellow Jackets maintained a comfortable lead in the second half, pushing its lead out to as many as 43 points with 1:26 to play. Morgan converted an old-fashioned three-point play for the 82-39 lead before the Paladins closed the game with a bucket for the final score.

Bianca Jackson led all scorers with 21 points. She finished with four assists and a pair of rebounds. Photo by Danny Karnik

All 13 Yellow Jackets saw game action with 11 contributing offensively. Jackson led all scorers with a game-high 21 points and was one of three Jackets to finish in double-figures. Cameron Swartz added 11 points, while Morgan recorded the first double-double of the season behind 11 points and 10 rebounds. Morgan was two assists shy of a triple-double, finishing with eight to mark a personal-best.

On the day, Georgia Tech recorded a season-high 24 assists, shot 41.4 percent (29-70) from the floor and won the battle on the glass, 47-37. The Jackets converted 16-of-20 free throw attempts for an 80.0 percent efficiency, paced by Morgan’s 5-of-6 showing. With its distribution of offense, Tech scored 37 points off the bench and held Furman to single scoring totals in three quarters. Furman was paced by Sydney James with 11 rebounds and eight points.

Georgia Tech returns to action after the holiday break, traveling to No. 25 Virginia on Dec. 29. Tip is slated for 7 p.m. in John Paul Jones Arena and will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra.

Competitive Drive Initiative

In a unified endeavor, Georgia Tech, the Georgia Tech Foundation, Georgia Tech athletics and the Alexander-Tharpe Fund have come together to accelerate funding for student-athlete scholarships with the launch of the Competitive Drive Initiative. The initiative met its initial fundraising goal of $2.5 million in less than six weeks and has extended its target to $3.5 million raised by Dec. 31. Any new gift to the A-T Fund’s Athletic Scholarship Fund made through Dec. 31 will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Georgia Tech Foundation, meaning that if the $3.5 million fundraising goal is met, the matching gift would result in a $7 million impact for Georgia Tech athletics. To learn more and to contribute online, visit atfund.org/accelerate.

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