Fort Myers, Fla. – Ja’von Franklin posted his second double-double in three games, but Georgia Tech had little else Wednesday night, falling behind by double digits early and taking an 84-60 loss to Marquette in the third-place game of the Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-Off.
For the second straight night, Tech (3-2) fell behind by double digits early in the game, but unlike Monday’s loss to Utah, the Yellow Jackets were unable to recover. The Golden Eagles (4-2) raced out to a 15-2 lead, making six of their first 10 shots, while the Jackets misfired on six of their first seven.
The closest Tech was able to get was seven points at 26-19 with 7:55 remaining in the first half, but Marquette’s Tyler Kolek knocked down a three-point basket and the Golden Eagles led by double digits the rest of the way, increasing the advantage to as many as 29 late in the second half.
Marquette shot 50 percent in the first half to lead 41-28 at the break, and finished at 47.5 percent while the Yellow Jackets connected on 33.8 percent, a season low.
Franklin, a transfer from South Alabama making his first start of the season, scored a team-high 17 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, one off his career high set last year. He hit 6-of-9 shots from the floor and all four of his free throw attempts, adding two blocked shots and two assists with no turnovers in 35:23.
Kyle Sturdivant was the only other Jackets to reach double figures, scoring 10 points.
Kam Jones led Marquette with 19 points, hitting four three-point basket, while Kolek finished with 14, Sean Jones added 11 and Oso Ighodaro added 10.
Tech returns home for its next game, Saturday at 4 p.m. against North Alabama at McCamish Pavilion. The game will be live streamed on ACC Network Extra and ESPN Plus.
Ja’von Franklin posted his second double-double as a Yellow Jacket with 17 points and 14 rebounds, both team highs. (photo by Reily Rogers)
Post-Game Notes
- Tech changed its starting lineup for the first time this season, inserting Ja’von Franklin at the “5” spot in place of Rodney Howard. had started the same lineup for each of the first four games – four guards around Howard. The four guards remained the same (Lance Terry, Kyle Sturdivant, Deebo Coleman, Deivon Smith). The change snapped a string of 11 straight starts for Howard dating back to last season.
- Tech has utilized a nine-player rotation in each of its first four games. All nine scored points against Clayton State and Northern Illinois, while eight registered in the scoring column at Georgia State. Seven tallied against Utah, and nine of 10 scored against Marquette.
- Tech has shot a season-low from the floor in each of its last two games – 34.8 percent against Utah, followed by 33.8 percent against Marquette.
- After getting to the free throw line 51 times in its first two games, Tech has attempted just 43 foul shots in the last three.
- Tech lost the turnover battle for the first time this season, matching its season high of 13 while forcing 11 from Marquette. The Jackets committed more than 13 turnovers 15 times last season.
- Tech still averages just 10.6 turnovers per game and has a turnover margin of plus-3.8
- Tech limited its first four foes to 16-of-76 shooting from three-point range (21.1 percent) but surrendered 39.1 percent (9-of-23) to Marquette. The Jackets led the ACC and ranked fourth nationally in three-point defense entering the game.
- Ja’von Franklin has scored 42 points (14.0 ppg), taken 33 rebounds (11.0 rpg), blocked eight shots and dished six assists in Tech’s last three games. He had 10/7/4/2 in Tech’s first two games.
- Franklin has two double-doubles in his last three games – 14 points and 11 rebounds vs. Northern Illinois and 17 points and 14 rebounds vs. Marquette. He has 10 for his career, eight of those last season at South Alabama.
- Franklin also reached double figures in points for the 25th time in his career, third as a Yellow Jacket.
- Miles Kelly saw his consecutive-game streak of making at least one three-point basket end at 10 games. Over the 10-game stretch he is 19-for-45 (42.2 percent). He is just 2-for-17 in his last three games.
- Kelly has hit 27-of-68 (39.7 pct.) from three-point range over Tech’s last 18 games dating back to Jan. 23 vs. Clayton State. He was 5-for-30 over the Jackets’ first 17 games of last season.
- Kyle Sturdivant reached double figures in points for the second time this season and first time since the season opener against Clayton State (10 points in each game). He made 4-of-8 from the floor, 2-of-4 from three-point range.
- Freshman Freds Pauls Bagatskis appeared in his second game of the season, playing the final 3:03, and scored his first college points on a three-pointer from the left corner with one second remaining in the game.
Miles Kelly scored eight points but saw his string of games with at least one three-point basket end at 10. (photo by Reily Rogers)
