March 15, 2017

Post-Game Notes - NIT First Round

March 15, 2017

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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

Georgia Tech starting lineup: Heath, Heyward, Okogie, Stephens, Lammers
First subs for Georgia Tech: Jackson, Moore for Heath, Okogie, 14:13 – 1^st half
On the floor for Georgia Tech at the end: Heath, Jackson, Okogie, Stephens, Lammers
Opening tap won by Georgia Tech. Georgia Tech has won the opening tap in 15 of 33 games this season.
Series record vs. Indiana: Georgia Tech is 1-2 overall, 1-0 at home, 1-0 in the NIT, 1-0 under Josh Pastner, 1-0 vs. Tom Crean
Current series streak: Tech won for the first time in the series
Georgia Tech is 16-4 at McCamish Pavilion this season, 59-30 in its fifth season in the building, 16-4 under Josh Pastner
Georgia Tech’s next game: vs. Georgia or Belmont in the second round of the NIT, date and site to be determined

TEAM NOTES

Tech improved its all-time record in the NIT to 11-8 and has won its first-round game for the third straight time.
The Yellow Jackets improved to 16-4 at home this season, tying a program record for home wins in a season. The 2006-07 team went 16-1 at home.
If you thought the 75-63 final score had a familiar ring to it, you’d be right. It is the third time Tech has won a game by that score this season (North Carolina on Dec. 31 and Clemson on Jan. 12).
Tech led at the half (34-27) for the 16^th time this year and improved to 14-2 when doing so.
Tech improved to 16-0 this season when leading at the 5-minute mark of the second half.
Tech has started Josh Heath, Corey Heyward, Ben Lammers, Josh Okogie and Quinton Stephens for the 13th time this season, and for the 13^th time in Tech’s last 14 games. Tadric Jackson started Tech’s game against Pitt in the ACC Tournament in place of Heyward. Three Yellow Jackets – Lammers, Okogie and Stephens – have started every game this season.
Tech has played its last 10 games without backup forward Abdoulaye Gueye (fractured wrist).
Tech wore gold uniforms at home for the third time this season and improved to 2-1. Tech is 3-4 this season when wearing gold uniforms this season regardless of venue.
Tech scored 70 or more points for the 14^th time this season and remained undefeated when doing so. The Yellow Jackets’ 75 points were their most since beating Tusculum, 96-58, on Feb. 7. It was the most vs. a Division I team since beating Florida State, 78-56, on Jan. 25. The Jackets had averaged just 60.3 points over its previous four games.
Tech shot 48.2 percent from the floor (51.7 percent in the second half), its best percentage since hitting 49.2 percent against NC State on Jan. 15 (not counting the 56.3-percent clip vs. Tusculum). Tech had connected on just 42.4 percent over its previous four games.
Tech outshot Indiana and improved to 18-3 this season when it has a higher field goal percentage than its opponent.
Tech held Indiana to 37.9 percent shooting from the floor, more than 10 percent beneath its season norm of 48.2 percent. Only three other teams have held the Hoosiers to a lower percentage this season. Indiana was the 17^th opponent Tech has held under 40 percent this season. The Yellow Jackets led the ACC in field goal percentage defense in conference games, and have the third-lowest yield (39.7 percent) against all comers.
Tech held the Hoosiers 17 points under their season average of 80.2 points per game. Indiana has scored fewer than its 63 vs. Tech only five times.
Indiana entered the game connecting on 38.3 percent of its three-point tries but went just 5-for-19 (26.3 percent) against Tech. The Yellow Jackets have held 13 opponents under 30 percent from beyond the arc.
Tech had one of its better nights shooting threes, making 7-of-19 for 36.8 percent. The Jackets are last in the ACC in three-point shooting, and had made only 22.4 percent over its previous four games.
Tech and the Hoosiers were even in scoring in the paint (30-30), the second straight game that stat has been a standoff.
Tech turned the ball over just nine times (three in the second half), the second consecutive game the Jackets have stayed under 10. Tech committed a season-low seven against Pittsburgh in the ACC Tournament.
Pastner meter 1 (assists to made field goals): Tech had 17 assists on 27 made field goals (63 pct.) vs. Indiana – exceeding its 60 percent goal. It improved Tech’s season rate to 61.4 percent, and 63.2 percent in ACC games.
Pastner meter 2 (free throws made to opponents’ attempts): Tech made 14-of-21 free throws (9-of-11 second half), to Indiana’s 14-of-18 (goal of making more than opponent tries not accomplished). The Yellow Jackets maintain a 69.8-percent clip from the foul line in ACC games, 68.0 percent in all games.
Pastner meter 3 (guard rebounding): Tech’s guards combined for 10 of Tech’s 25 defensive rebounds, 56 of 105 in Tech’s last three games.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

Josh Okogie scored a game-high 24 points (9-of-15 FG, 6-of-9 FT), his 28^th double-digit game this year. Okogie has reached double figures in 12 straight games, last failing to do so vs. Notre Dame on Jan. 28. It was Okogie’s seventh game this season of 20 or more points. He is averaging a team-high 15.8 points per game, and is Tech’s highest-scoring freshman since Dion Glover (18.4 ppg) in 2002-03. Only six times in Tech history has a freshman led the Jackets in scoring.
Okogie surpassed 500 points for the season against Indiana, how at 521. The only freshmen in Tech history to score 500 or more points were Kenny Anderson (721 in 35 games), Stephon Marbury (679 in 36 games) and Mark Price (568 in 28 games).
Okogie added four assists and seven rebounds in 37 minutes.
Quinton Stephens scored 16 points (6-for-9 FG), his second straight game with 16. The effort returned him to double-figures for the season at 10.1 points per game. It was his 19^th double-digit scoring game of the year. He missed his eight double-double by one rebound, but added three assists in 37 minutes.
Stephens went 4-for-7 from three-point range against Indiana, and has made four or more threes in a game four times this season.
Stephens played in the 131^st game of his career against Indiana, giving him the all-time Tech record. The previous mark of 130 was shared by Malcolm Mackey (1990-93), Marvin Lewis (2001-04), Anthony McHenry (2002-05) and Marcus Georges-Hunt (2013-16).
Ben Lammers notched his 14^th double-double this season, scoring 11 points with 11 rebounds. He ranks third in the ACC in double-doubles. It was his 28^th double-figure scoring game this season, and his 16^th double-digit rebounding game. He ranks third in the ACC with 9.4 per game. Lammers added three assists and two steals in 38 minutes.
Lammers blocked five shots, his most since swatting away seven on Feb. 19 vs. Syracuse. It gave him 109 for the season, the second-highest season total ever for a Tech player. Alvin Jones holds the Tech season record with 141 in 1997-98. Lammers is averaging 3.30 blocks per game, which ranks No. 3 nationally and leads the ACC. He moved up to sixth place at Tech in career blocks with 160.
Tadric Jackson scored 19 points (7-for-13 from the floor) for his 20^th double-figure game this season and 10th in Tech’s last 13 games. He is Tech’s third leading scorer (12.1 ppg). Jackson added three assists and three steals in 25 minutes. The junior guard made two threes but went 5-for-7 inside the arc. For the season he is making 50.7 percent of his twos.
Josh Heath went scoreless for the first time since Jan. 25 vs. Florida State, ironically also a Tech victory. But he played a solid 38 minutes running Tech’s offense and committed only one turnover. Heath had only two assists, but it gave him an even 300 for his Tech career.
Corey Heyward played 21 turnover-free minutes, and has committed just four turnovers in 231 minutes over his last 14 games. He has played 22 turnover-free games this season.