March 22, 2016
Recap | Final Stats | Photo Gallery
– MISCELLANEOUS NOTES
• Georgia Tech starting lineup: Georges-Hunt, Smith, Stephens, Jacobs, Mitchell
• First subs for Georgia Tech: Lammers and White for Jacobs and Mitchell at the 16:07 mark of the first half
• On the floor for Georgia Tech at the end: Heath, Heyward, Jackson, Jorgenson, Rowland
• Opening tap won by Georgia Tech. Georgia Tech has won the opening tap 21 times in 36 games this season.
• Series record vs. South Carolina: Georgia Tech is 25-18 overall, 11-8 on the road, 1-0 at Colonial Life Arena, 1-0 under Brian Gregory, 1-0 vs. Frank Martin
• Current series streak: Tech won the last two games in the series
• Georgia Tech’s next game: March 23, 2016, at San Diego State or Washington (NIT quarterfinals), 9 p.m. ET [ESPN2]
TEAM NOTES
• Georgia Tech advances to a quarterfinal game Wednesday night at No. 2 seed San Diego State or No. 3 seed Washington. The winner of that game moves on to the semifinals March 29 at Madison Square Garden in New York. Tech has advanced to the quarterfinals of the NIT for the fourth time in eight appearances in the post-season event and is 10-7 all-time in the tournament.
• Tech’s 21 wins this season has been surpassed only twice in the last 20 years. The Yellow Jackets’ 2004 Final Four team win 28 games, and the 2010 NCAA Tournament team won 23.
• Tech improved to 5-7 on the road this season. The five wins on the road are the most for the Yellow Jackets since 2013-14 (also 5-7). The last Tech team to win six road games in one year was 2007-08.
• Tech’s 17-point margin of victory was its largest in a road game since defeating Wake Forest 80-54 on March 3, 2011.
• Tech has won its two NIT games by 19 and 17 points. The Jackets have not put together back-to-back wins of such margins since the 2010-11 season, defeating North Carolina 78-58 and Wake Forest 74-39.
• Tech’s 83 points marked the ninth time this season the Jackets have scored 80 or more points. Tech scored 80 or more nine times total in Brian Gregory’s first four seasons on the Flats.
• Tech’s 83 points also marked its highest output in a post-season game since an 88-78 win over Seton Hall in the opening round of the 1998 NIT.
• Tech shot 50.8 percent from the floor, the ninth time this season the Jackets have shot 50 percent or better, and they are 8-1 in those games. Tech is 29-3 under Brian Gregory when shooting 50 percent. It was the second time the Jackets have shot 50 percent in consecutive games (Clemson and Boston College on Feb. 23 and 27).
• Tech led 42-28 at the half, the 21st time in 35 games this season the Yellow Jackets have led at the half, and is now 15-6 when leading at intermission.
• Tech placed five players in double digits – all five starters, combining for 68 of Tech’s 83 points – for the first time since Green Bay on Nov. 19 (6 players).
• Tech out-rebounded South Carolina 39-21, the 30th time in 35 games this season the Yellow Jackets have won the battle of the boards. The Jackets improved their season rebound margin to +7.7, which would eclipse last year’s school-record pace of +7.3. Tech has out-rebounded its two NIT opponents 78-46.
• Tech took 12 offensive rebounds for 10 second-chance points (to South Carolina’s 4) and out-scored the Gamecocks in the paint 32-26.
• Tech dished 17 assists, the Jackets’ fourth-highest total of the season, on 30 field goals made against just 12 turnovers. Tech has 36 assists on 62 made field goals in the NIT against 23 turnovers.
• Tech went 11-for-22 from three-point range (Smith 5-for-10, Stephens 3-for-7 and Georges-Hunt 2-for-3) and are 19-for-38 from distance in two NIT games combined. The Jackets are 31-for-69 (44.9 pct.) in the last four games (ACC and NIT Tournaments).
• Tech went 13-for-17 from the free throw line and improved its season rate to 72.3 percent, the best rate for any Tech team since 1972-73 (73.1). The Jackets are hitting 80.8 percent in the NIT.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
• Marcus Georges-Hunt made his 128th career start against South Carolina, surpassing the Tech career mark set by Malcolm Mackey (1989-93). He played in the 129th game of his career, second-most all-time and one shy of the Yellow Jacket record of 130 shared by Mackey, Marvin Lewis (2000-04) and Anthony McHenry (2001-05).
• Georges-Hunt scored 14 points (4-of-8 FG, 2-3 on threes, 4-5 FT), reaching double figures for the 28th time in 35 games this season, and for the 91st time in 129 career games. He also had a career-high eight assists and no turnovers, with a block and a steal, in 32 minutes.
• Adam Smith scored a game-high 21 points, his fourth 20+ game in the last five and his 10th of the season. He reached double figures for the 29th time in 35 games this season. He went 8-of-14 from the floor and 5-for-10 from three-point range and had three assists in 36 minutes.
• Smith went 5-for-10 from three-point range, and is 8-for-16 in the NIT. He maintained his ACC-best seasonal average of 3.11 per game, increasing his season total to 109, the third-most in a season in Tech history. He has made at least one three in 103 of 113 career games.
• Charles Mitchell scored 12 points for his second straight double-digit game. He reached double figures in points for the 51st ime in his career and for the 20th time this season. He went 6-for-8 from the floor and is 12-for-20 combined in two NIT games.
• Nick Jacobs produced his third double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds – Louisville on Jan. 16 (16/10) and Pittsburgh on March 5 (19/12) were his others.
• Quinton Stephens reached double figures in points (11 with three treys) for the first time since scoring 11 against Clemson on Feb. 23. He has scored in double digits seven times this year, and Tech has won all seven of those games.
• Josh Heath played his best game since January, scoring five points (one trey) with four assists in 23 minutes off the bench. His 23 minutes were his most since Jan. 27 at NC State (26).
