December 31, 2022

Jackets Fall to #13/12 Virginia, 74-56

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THE FLATS – Miles Kelly led Georgia Tech with 20 points and was one of two Yellow Jackets in double-figures as the Yellow Jackets’ men’s basketball team dropped a 74-56 decision to No. 13/12 Virginia on Saturday in McCamish Pavilion.

Georgia Tech (7-6, 0-3 ACC) kept a close hold on Virginia (10-2, 2-1 ACC) in the first half, trailing just 27-25 after a pair of free throws from Jalon Moore with 2:58 remaining. But an eight-minute, 36-second scoring drought by Tech extending more than five minutes into into the second half allowed Virginia to score 25 unanswered points through the 14:41 mark, gaining a 52-25 lead. Despite holding Virginia to two made three-pointers in the second half after the Cavaliers hit eight in the first half, Georgia Tech could not mount a comeback.

Virginia maintained a commanding lead in the second half as Tech was plagued by turnovers, committing 23 miscues in the game that were converted into 30 Cavalier points. The Cavaliers finished at a 47.4 percent shooting clip, including a 45.5 percent effort from three-point distance.

Kelly and Ja’von Franklin (11) led the Yellow Jackets offensively, while Kyle Sturdivant finished with eight assists to mark a career-high (prev: 7 vs. Alabama State, 12/17/22).

Kihei Clark (15), Jayden Gardner (14), Armaan Franklin (11) and Kadin Shedrick (11) led Virginia in the scoring column. The Cavaliers narrowly won the rebounding battle, 31-30, and dished out 21 assists on the day.

Georgia Tech returns to action on Wednesday, Jan. 4, hosting No. 14 Miami at McCamish Pavilion. Tip is slated for 7 p.m. on RSN.

Miles Kelly led the Jackets in scoring for the sixth time this season, tallying 20 points. (photo by Danny Karnik)

Post-Game Notes

TEAM NOTES

Tech has lost six straight games to teams ranked in the AP and/or Coaches Top 25. The Yellow Jackets’ last win over a top-25 team was its 80-75 victory over No. 15/13 Florida State in the 2021 ACC Championship game.
Tech started its fifth different lineup this season. Lance Terry returned to the starting five for the first time since the fifth game of the season (Marquette), and Deebo Coleman started for the first time since North Carolina on Dec. 10. Miles Kelly was out of the lineup for the first time since Marquette.
Tech used only eight players against Virginia, matching the fewest to see the floor this season. Tristan Maxwell and Jordan Meka, both of whom see minutes most games, did not dress due to illness. Tech had used nine or more players in 11 of the first 12 this season (eight vs. Georgia).
Tech’s 23 turnovers were a season high, exceeding the previous high of 14 against North Alabama on Nov. 27 and more than doubling its season average of 10.1, which ranked ninth in the nation and was a full turnover lower than its previous best for an entire season. Virginia turned those 23 turnovers into 30 points, also a season-high for an opponent against the Yellow Jackets (Marquette had 24).
Tech allowed a season-high 10 three-point field goals to Virginia. Tech led the ACC and ranked seventh in the nation in three-point defense (26.3 pct.) entering Wednesday’s game.
Tech’s bench has outscored that of its opponent in nine of 13 games, and outscored Virginia 31-15. Tech entered Wednesday’s game No. 1 in the ACC in bench scoring (23.8 ppg).

INDIVIDUAL HIGHLIGHTS

Miles Kelly has reached double figures in points in eight straight games, leading the Yellow Jackets in the scoring column in six of those. Kelly has averaged 16.0 points and 3.9 rebounds over that stretch. He has connected on 44-of-90 shots from the floor (48.8 pct.), 24-of-52 from three-point range (46.1 pct.) and 16-of-17 from the foul line across those eight games.
Kelly hit 5-of-9 tries from three-point range against Virginia, both career highs.
Kyle Sturdivant dished eight of Tech’s 11 assists in the game, a career high. His previous best was seven against Alabama State.
Sturdivant has started Tech’s last three games, averaged 24.9 minutes, 9.9 points and 5.0 assists over that stretch. He has connected on 12-of-24 shots from the floor, 4-of-10 on threes.
Ja’von Franklin produced his first double-figure game in points since Georgia on Dec. 6, tallying 11 points and nine rebounds against Virginia. He missed by one rebound a potential third double-double this season.
Rodney Howard has connected on 24-of-31 shots from the floor dating back to Nov. 23 vs. Marquette, covering eight games. That includes a streak of 13 consecutive makes from his last two attempts of the Northeastern game through his first four of the Alabama State game (4-for-4 vs. Georgia, 3-for-3 at North Carolina). For the season he has connected on 65.3 percent (32-of-49).