ATLANTA–Former Georgia Tech standout Drew Barry scored 21 points to lead the California All-Stars to a 107-86 victory over the Yellow Jackets in an exhibition game at the Georgia Dome.
Five Tech players scored in double figures, led by Shaun Fein with 18 points. Alvin Jones and Tony Akins scored 16 points each, freshman Marvin Lewis had 14, and T.J. Vines added 12.
After leading by as many as seven points in the first half, Tech trailed 45-41 at the half. The Jackets kept the game close until midway through the second half, trailing 77-72 with eight minutes to play when the California All-Stars went on a 15-5 run, keyed by an intentional foul called on Akins that led to a four-point play for Troy Nesmith. California All-Stars shot 56 percent in the second half, outscoring Tech 62-45 in the second half.
“It’s tough to point out a lot of things you liked when you get pasted like that,” said Tech head coach Paul Hewitt in his first outside competition as the Yellow Jackets’ head coach, “but I thought, offensively, we ran the floor and we did a good job of getting the big guy (Jones) the ball.”
Jones hit five of 11 shots from the field and was 6-for-7 from the free throw line.
“If Alvin runs the floor, he has to get the ball,” said Hewitt. “That’s a major point of emphasis. I think he’s improved offensively.”
Tech connected on 12 three-pointers in the game, including four by Fein and four by Lewis, but the Jackets allowed California All-Stars to hit 15 treys, led by Barry, who was 6-for-12 from beyond the arc.
“We’ve got to do a better job of getting out there and contesting shots,” he said. “They had far too many open threes. We’re still getting used to the press. We missed some rotations that we need to tighten up.”
Ten Yellow Jackets saw action in the game, ranging from eight minutes for Darryl LaBarrie to 29 for Fein.
“I thought we did a fair job of keeping fresh legs on the floor,” said Hewitt.
Barry, who played last season with the Atlanta Hawks, also had eight assists and six rebounds as the California All-Stars outrebounded Tech, 46-39, and outshot the Jackets, 51 percent to 43 percent.
Former St. John’s guard Chudney Gray had 19 points for the California All-Stars.
Tech’s next exhibition is next Monday, Nov. 13, against USDBL All-Stars at 7:30 p.m. at Alexander Memorial Coliseum.
