THE FLATS – Two back-breaking scoring runs proved to be the difference-maker as Georgia Tech men’s basketball fell 86-43 to Duke on Saturday afternoon at McCamish Pavilion.
After a tight battle early, the Yellow Jackets (8-13, 1-10 ACC) trailed by just seven before the Blue Devils (15-6, 6-4 ACC) hit a 13-2 run to push out to a 43-25 halftime advantage.
Hot-shooting Duke then started the second half on a 17-3 run to push its lead to 37 and seal its win.
For the game, Tech was unable to cool Duke’s offense as they shot 55.7 percent and nearly 40 percent from downtown, compared to the Jackets’ 30.1 percent overall and 22.7 percent from three.
Beyond the shooting, Duke also won the points-off-turnovers battle 15-1, despite the turnovers being largely even (11-7, GT). Tech was also held to just six free-throw attempts, compared to Duke’s 15.
Individually, Tech was led by Tristan Maxwell, who finished with 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting. Rodney Howard also recorded nine points and six rebounds.
Duke was led by Kyle Filipowski, who finished with 18 points.
With six of its last nine ACC games on the road, Georgia Tech travels to take on Louisville and NC State on Feb. 1 and 4, respectively, next week. Tipoff for Louisville is set for 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on the ACC’s Regional Sports Networks.
Rodney Howard (24 – above) finished with nine points and six rebounds on the day. (photo by Danny Karnik)
Post-Game Notes
TEAM TRENDS
- Ten of Tech’s first 11 ACC games have come against opponents with winning or .500 conference records (combined record: 62-29). Notre Dame (1-9) is the exception.
- Six of Tech’s final nine ACC games are on the road.
- Georgia Tech has used the same starting five in its last three games. Tech has utilized nine different starting lineups total this season. Nine Yellow Jackets have started at least two games this season, and none have started every game.
- With Lance Terry (hamstring) unavailable, Tech still utilized 10 players for only fifth time this season. Nine or more Yellow Jackets have taken the court in 15 of 21 games. Tech ranked No. 126 in the nation this season in bench minutes (33.0 pct. entering the game), and only one other Josh Pastner Tech team has seen its reserves play more.
- Tech has averaged 24.2 three-point attempts in ACC games, trying at least 20 in every game except Virginia (16).
- Tech has suffered three of its four poorest three-point shooting performances in its last four games (2-for-21 vs. NC State, 4-for-23 vs. Clemson, 5-for-22 vs. Duke). The Jackets have connected on just 21.6 percent from distance over that span.
- Tech is 1-13 this season when the opponent makes a higher percentage of its field goal attempts, 7-0 when it has a better percentage.
- Tech’s last three opponents (NC State, Syracuse, Clemson, Duke) have each shot better than 50 percent from the floor (53.8 percent combined). Only two (Georgia, Virginia) did so in the Jackets’ first 17 games.
- Tech is 6-1 this season when scoring 70 or more points (1-0 in the ACC), 2-12 when failing to reach 70. The Jackets have set season lows for points in each of their last two games (51 vs. Clemson, 43 vs. Duke).
- Tech has connected on less than 40 percent from the floor in four of its last five games (Pitt, NC State, Clemson, Duke). The Jackets’ 30.9-percent clip against Duke was a season low.
- Tech is 18-for-38 from the foul line in its last five games after hitting 75.6 percent from the stripe in its first six ACC games.
- Tech has assisted on 56.9 percent of their field goals in ACC games, fourth-best in the ACC.
- After a four-game stretch in which it averaged 17 turnovers, Tech has averaged less than 12 in its last five games.
PLAYER UPDATES
- Senior guard Kyle Sturdivant played the 100th game of his college career Saturday against Duke, most among the Yellow Jackets. Senior center Rodney Howard is the next closest at 90. Tech’s other two seniors, Ja’von Franklin and Lance Terry, have played in just 80 and 74 games, respectively.
- Lance Terry missed his third consecutive game with a hamstring injury.
- Freshmen Cyril Martynov and Freds Pauls Bagatskis played for the first time since Dec. 17 vs. Alabama State and saw their first action in an ACC game.
- Only one other Tech player has led the team in both rebound average and assist average – Iman Shumpert (5.9 rog, 3.5 apg) in 2010-11 – since assists began to be recorded 56 years ago. Deivon Smith currently leads the Jackets in both (5.7 rpg, 3.7 apg).
- Deivon Smith had five assists against no turnovers against Duke in 30 minutes, improving his season assist/turnover ratio to 2.56/1, which ranks in the top three in the ACC.
- Tristan Maxwell (team-high 10 points vs. Duke) has led the Yellow Jackets in scoring twice this season (Alabama State, Duke) and three times in his career (Boston College last season).
- Tech’s sophomore trio of Deebo Coleman, Miles Kelly and Jalon Moore rank 1-2-3 on the Yellow Jackets’ scoring chart. They have accounted for 45.8 percent of the team’s total points this season and have taken 43.8 percent of the shots from the floor. In ACC games, they have accounted for 48.5 percent of the points and 46.7 percent of the shots taken.
Tristan Maxwell (11 – above) led Georgia Tech with 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting. (photo by Danny Karnik)
