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Post-Game Notes: Virginia Tech 78, Georgia Tech 77

Jan. 16, 2016

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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES
• Georgia Tech starting lineup: Georges-Hunt, Smith, Stephens, Mitchell, White
• First subs for Georgia Tech: Heath, Jacobs and Lammers at the 15:21 mark of the first half
• On the floor for Georgia Tech at the end: Georges-Hunt, Jackson, Jacobs, Smith, Stephens
• Opening tap won by Georgia Tech. Georgia Tech has won the opening tap 10 times in 18 games this season.
• Series record vs. Virginia Tech: Georgia Tech is 6-16 overall, 3-6 at home, 1-2 at McCamish Pavilion, 2-4 under Brian Gregory, 0-2 vs. Buzz Williams
• Current series streak: Georgia Tech lost the last two meetings
• Georgia Tech is 9-2 at McCamish Pavilion this season, 38-23 in its fourth season in the building, 38-23 under Brian Gregory
• Georgia Tech’s next game: January 23, 2016 vs. Louisville, 4 p.m. ET [ESPN2], McCamish Pavilion, Atlanta, Ga.

TEAM NOTES
• Georgia Tech started Georges-Hunt, Smith, Stephens, Mitchell & White for the third straight game.
• Georgia Tech’s first five ACC opponents have a combined regular-season record of 67-17 (.798), the strongest schedule to date of any conference team. Clemson has had the next-toughest row to hoe to date; their ACC foes are 69-19 (.784) combined.
• After beginning its ACC schedule with three of four games on the road, Georgia Tech does not travel again until it visits NC State on Jan. 27. In the meantime, the Yellow Jackets have a bye next week before hosting No. 16 Louisville on Saturday, Jan. 23.
• Georgia Tech led 43-33 at the half, the third time in five ACC games it has led at the half. The Yellow Jackets are 1-1 when they have led at the half in conference play, 9-3 overall this season.
• This was Georgia Tech’s fifth halftime lead of 10 points or more, including a 35-24 advantage against Virginia on Jan. 9. It was Tech’s third 40-point-plus half in an ACC game this season, the 13th this season.
• Georgia Tech also led 74-64 with 4:32 remaining in the game, and for the second straight time in the series with Virginia Tech, watched a 10-point lead evaporate into a loss in the final five minutes. Tech is 11-2 this season when leading with five minutes to go, 58-12 under Brian Gregory.
• One game after getting no fast-break points at Notre Dame, Georgia Tech scored 28 in transition against Virginia Tech, the most for the Jackets in an ACC game this year and most since getting 29 in the season opener against Cornell.
• Georgia Tech’s 52 points in the paint were its most since scoring 64 in the opener against Cornell.
• Georgia Tech’s 13 turnovers were its most since committing 15 in its win over VCU on Dec. 15. Tech’s turnover average is still 10.2 per game this season, 9.2 in ACC games. Nationally, the Jackets have improved from 195th in the nation last year to 12th this year and are third in the ACC in fewest turnovers committed.
• Georgia Tech out-rebounded Virginia Tech 38-31 . The Yellow Jackets have out-rebounded 14 of their 18 opponents, with two ties, this season; and three of five ACC foes. Tech remains fourth in the ACC and is 21st in the nation in rebound margin (+8.2 per game).
• Tech took 10 offensive rebounds to Virginia Tech’s two, but converted only 11 second-chance points. The Jackets are third in the ACC and 21st nationally in offensive rebounds per game (13.7).
• Tech assisted on 16 of its 32 field goals and remains fifth in the ACC at 14.7 per game. The Jackets entered the game ranked 112th nationally in that category after finishing the 2014-15 season 244th.
• Tech made just 4-of-15 three-point attempts in the game, and are just 9-of-34 in the last two games. The Yellow Jackets are fifth in the ACC and 52nd nationally in three-point percentage (37.2), and have hit 40.5 percent in ACC games.
• Tech’s 64 points were its fewest since dropping a 75-61 decision at Georgia on Dec. 19. The Yellow Jackets are averaging 76.7 points for the season and 73.5 in ACC games.
• Tech shot 48.5 percent from the floor, matching its season-high in ACC play set against Pittsburgh.
• The Yellow Jackets blocked 10 shots, their most since swatting 12 in the second game of the season against Tennessee.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES
Marcus Georges-Hunt established a new career high Saturday with 27 points, eclipsing his 25 from the North Carolina game on Jan. 2 and Charlotte last year. It was his fifth 20+ game this season, 14th of his career.
• Georges-Hunt went 11-for-18 from the floor and 3-for-4 from the free throw line with two assists and four turnovers in his third game as Tech’s primary point guard. He has 21 assists in his last six games.
• Georges-Hunt improved his career scoring total to 1,405 points and moved past Marvin Lewis (1,396 from 2000-04) and Anthony Morrow (1,400 points from 2004-08) into 19th place on Georgia Tech’s all-time scoring list.
• Georges-Hunt has scored in double figures in 14 of 18 games this season, 77 of 112 games in his career (36 ACC games).
Nick Jacobs logged his third straight double-digit game off the bench, scoring 15 points, and hitting 7-of-11 shots from the floor. He scored 16 (5-7 FG, 6-7 FT) against Virginia and 10 (5-14 FG) at Notre Dame.
Ben Lammers, the “Laminator,” blocked a career-high four shots against Virginia Tech. The Jackets’ leading shot-blocker with 24, despite playing only 15 minutes a game, has 13 in his last six games and 10 in ACC games. Lammers also contributed six points and six rebounds in 17 minutes off the bench.
Adam Smith hit only one three in seven attempts (2-for-13 overall), and is 5-for-18 in Georgia Tech’s last two games. It was his first game not in double digits since VCU on Dec. 15, snapping a string of eight straight double-digit efforts. He also had three assists and did not turn the ball over (in 31 minutes) for the fifth straight game and for the 10th time this season.
• Smith has made at least one in every game this season and in his last 20 straight games dating back to last season. He had made at least three treys in eight straight games before the Virginia Tech game. He has made at least one in 87 of 96 games in his career for a total of 225 after the Notre Dame game. His career total would rank seventh all-time Georgia Tech had he played his entire career here.
• Smith leads the ACC in three-pointers per game (3.39) and third in percentage this season (now 44.5 percent). He had jumped to ninth nationally in three-pointers per game and 16th in percentage before Saturday’s game. His percentage in ACC games is still 46.0 (23-for-50).
• In 18 games, Smith has made more three-pointers (61) than Tech’s leader in each of the first four seasons under Brian Gregory. They are the most since Brian Oliver accumulated 63 (in 36 games) in the 2009-10 season.
Travis Jorgenson played 13 minutes off the bench and had four assists and no turnovers, improving his season assist-turnover ratio to 44-to-10. It was his ninth turnover-free game.

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