THE FLATS – Georgia Tech men’s basketball used six double-digit scorers, 13 three-pointers, 54.4 percent shooting and just five turnovers to rout Alabama State, 96-60, on Saturday afternoon at McCamish Pavilion.
The Yellow Jackets (7-4) broke out to a quick 21-9 lead in the first seven minutes and never looked back, building their lead to as large as 42 to remained undefeated at home, improving to 6-0 on the season at McCamish. The Hornets struggled from the floor (35.4 percent shooting), including 20.0 percent from three to fall to 1-9 in the midst of a five-game road swing.
Tech was led by Tristan Maxwell, who, in his first career start, poured in 18 points (five three-pointers) and four assists. Jalon Moore also put up 15 points, seven rebounds, three blocks and two steals, while Lance Terry scored 13 points off the bench.
Kyle Sturdivant turned in a complete game for the Jackets as well, scoring 13 points to buoy eight rebounds and seven assists on the day. Miles Kelly finished with 10 points, while Rodney Howard turned in a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
ASU was led by Isaiah Range who finished with 14 points and four rebounds.
Georgia Tech will look to remain hot at home as it resumes ACC play against Clemson on Dec. 21 (7:30 p.m.) and No. 2 Virginia on Dec. 31 (noon) at McCamish Pavilion.
In his first-career start, Tristan Maxwell (11 – above) led all scorers with 18 points (five three-pointers) to go along with four assists. (photo by Danny Karnik)
Post-Game Notes
TEAM NOTES
- Tech remained undefeated at home this season and extended its home winning streak to seven games with the win over Alabama State. Tech plays its next three games at home against Clemson on Dec. 21, Virginia on Dec. 31 and Miami on Jan. 4. The Yellow Jackets do not travel again until Jan. 7 at Florida State.
- Tech started its fourth different lineup of the season, primarily due to injury. Ja’von Franklin did not dress, still nursing a groin injury sustained in last week’s game at North Carolina. Deebo Coleman (achilles), Deivon Smith (ankle) did not start but played in the game. No one on Tech’s roster has started every game this season – Coleman and Smith had started the first 10.
- Tristan Maxwell made his first career start for the Yellow Jackets. Rodney Howard returned to the starting lineup for the first time since the season’s fourth game against Utah, and Kyle Sturdivant made his first start since the fifth game against Marquette.
- Tech’s 36-point win against Alabama State was its third-largest margin of victory under Josh Pastner. Tech has won four other games by 30 or more points under Pastner.
- Six Tech players scored in double figured for the second time this season (also vs. Clayton State). Tech has placed four or more players in double-figure points seven times this season and is 6-1 in those games.
- Ten of the 11 scholarship players who saw action against Alabama State scored at least one field goal (Freds Pauls Bagatskis was 0-for-1). Backup center Jordan Meka scored his first points of the season.
- Tech has used 10 or more players seven times in 11 games this season.
- Tech’s bench has outscored that of its opponent in seven of 11 games. Tech entered Saturday’s game No. 2 in the ACC in bench scoring (24.1 ppg).
- Tech is 22-of-50 from three-point range in its last two games, setting season highs for three-point field goals in each – 13-for-24 against Alabama State, 9-of-26 at North Carolina.
- Tech’s five turnovers matched its low under Josh Pastner (Notre Dame in 2020 and Utah earlier this season) and was one off the Yellow Jacket record of four (LSU on 3/17/1990 and Wake Forest on 2/13/1988). Tech entered Saturday’s game fourth in the ACC in fewest turnovers per game and 19th in the nation, one of the Jackets’ biggest areas of improvement over 2021-22.
- Tech has reached its target of 11 turnovers or fewer for eight times in 11 games. The Yellow Jackets have a season turnover margin of plus-2.5, which ranked fifth in the ACC entering Saturday’s game. Its percentage of possessions that end in turnovers (15.2 pct.) ranked 17th nationally, according to KenPom.com.
- Tech has permitted its opponents to make just 26.2 percent of their three-point field goal tries this season (Alabama State was 4-for-20, North Carolina 3-for-13 in the last two games). Tech led the ACC and ranked 11th in the nation in three-point defense entering Saturday’s game.
INDIVIDUAL HIGHLIGHTS
- Tristan Maxwell doubled his season point total (17 prior to Saturday) with his game-high 18 points against Alabama State. It was his first double-figure game since scoring a career-high 22 last Jan. 12 at Boston College.
- Maxwell scored Tech’s first eight points of the game against Alabama State, making two three-pointers in the process. He finished the game 5-of-8 from distance after hitting just 1-of-12 through the Yellow Jackets’ first 10 games of the season.
- Maxwell also set career high for assists with four (he had five in the first 10 games) and committed his first turnover of the season.
- Rodney Howard posted his second double-double this season against Alabama State (11 points, 11 rebounds) and the fifth of his career.
- Howard is 18-of-22 from the floor dating back to Nov. 23 vs. Marquette. In his last three games, he is 12-for-13 (4-for-4 vs. Georgia, 3-for-3 at North Carolina and 5-for-6 against Alabama State. For the season he has connected on 65 percent (26-of-40).
- Howard had a streak of 13 field goals made in a row broken when he missed his fifth attempt in Saturday’s game against Alabama State. He made his last two against Northeastern, went 4-for-4 against Georgia, 3-for-3 against North Carolina and made his first four against the Hornets.
- Kyle Sturdivant posted his third double-digit scoring game this season against Alabama State (13 points) and set career highs for assists (7) and rebounds (8) while committing just one turnover in 24 minutes.
- Sturdivant has 14 assists and just three turnovers over Tech’s last five games.
- Miles Kelly has started Tech’s last six games, reaching double-digit points in each one, and has averaged 15.2 points and 4.2 rebounds over that stretch. He has connected on 33-of-65 shots from the floor (50.7 pct.), 16-of-36 from three-point range (44.4 pct.) and 9-of-10 from the line across those six games.
- Jalon Moore has started Tech’s last six games and also scored in double figures in each one, averaging 13.5 points and 6.5 rebounds over that stretch. He has hit 29-of-55 from the floor (52.7 percent) in those six games.
- Lance Terry has four double-figure scoring games this season after his 13-point effort (5-6 FG) against Alabama State that included two three-pointers. Over Tech’s last four games, Terry has averaged 10.3 points and hit 16-of-26 shots from the floor.
Georgia Tech’s Rodney Howard (24 – above) turned in his second double-double for the season. (photo by Danny Karnik)
