THE FLATS – Spurred by a 17-0 run in the first half, Georgia Tech men’s basketball routed Clark Atlanta, 91-75, in the preseason exhibition on Wednesday night at McCamish Pavilion.
The Yellow Jackets were lights out from both close range (57.9 percent) and long range (45.7 percent), stretching out the defense early with three pointers before finishing the game off by attacking the rim.
Overall, Tech held advantages in fast break points (23-6), points in the paint (30-26) and a 25-7 lead in assists.
On the flipside, Tech held the Panthers to just 34.7 percent from the field, including a paltry 21.7 percent from downtown.
Kowacie Reeves led the way for the Jackets, finishing just shy of a double-double with 19 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Amaree Abram also finished in double figures, scoring 18 on a near-perfect 6-for-7 from the field (4-for-4 from three-point range), while Miles Kelly finished with 12 points.
Kyle Sturdivant also dished out a game-high 11 assists.
Clark Atlanta was led by Dez’Mond Perkins and Xaiver Griffith, who finished with 14 points apiece.
Georgia Tech begins the regular season in earnest on Monday, Nov. 6 when it hosts in-state foe Georgia Southern. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ACC Network Extra and ESPN+.
Kowacie Reeves (14 – above) led Georgia Tech on the night with 19 points, eight rebounds and four assists. (photo by Danny Karnik)
Post-Game Notes
TEAM TRENDS
- In Tech’s closed scrimmage and exhibition game combined, 80 of the Yellow Jackets’ 133 shots were three-point tries.
- Tech connected on 33 of 70 three-point attempts (47.1 percent) in the two pre-season games combined.
- Tech had 45 assists on 65 made field goals (69.2 percent) in the two pre-season contests combined.
- Tech shot 67.9 percent from the floor in the second half (57.9 percent for the game), yet outscored Clark Atlanta only by one point. The Panthers went 16-of-25 from the free throw line after intermission
- Three Tech players fouled out. Only four Yellow Jackets fouled out all of last season.
PLAYER NOTES
- Tech’s starting transfer guards – Kowacie Reeves, Jr., and Amaree Abram – combined for 37 of the Jackets’ 91 points and 14 rebounds, hit 14 of 18 shots from the floor and 7-of-11 three-point attempts.
- Fourth-year point guard Kyle Sturdivant dished 11 assists, which would have been a career high has this been a regular season game.
- Tech played the game without senior guard Lance Terry, graduate transfer forward Tyzhaun Claude and freshman forward Baye Ndongo, all out with injuries. All are expected to be significant contributors to the Jackets this season.
Amaree Abram (24 – above) was one of three double-digit scorers for Georgia Tech, finishing with 16 points on a near-perfect 6-for-6 shooting (4-for-4 from downtown). (photo by Danny Karnik)
