March 16, 2003
Earning its 16th postseason invitation in the last 20 years, the Georgia Tech men’s basketball team will host Ohio State in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Alexander Memorial Coliseum at McDonald’s Center. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN2.
“We’re very grateful that the NIT has selected us,” said Yellow Jacket head coach Paul Hewitt, who has led his team to postseason play in four of his six seasons as a head coach, including two of his three years at Tech. “The best thing for this young team is to keep playing games.
“I know [Ohio State head coach] Jim O’Brien very well. He was at Boston College when I was an assistant at Villanova. I know they are going to be very well coached, and they are going to execute their half-court offense very well.”
Tech, which fell to NC State, 71-65, in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament quarterfinals, enters the postseason with a record of 14-14 overall, including a 7-9 mark and a fifth-place finish in the ACC. Ohio State has a record of 17-14 and advanced to the championship game of the Big Ten Tournament before falling to Illinois, 72-59.
Tech will be making its 19th postseason appearance and its seventh trip to the NIT. The Jackets have a 6-6 record in six previous NIT appearances, including a first-round loss at Oregon, 67-64, in 1999 in their last NIT.
The Yellow Jackets are led by the trio of 6-4 junior Marvin Lewis (12.5 ppg), 6-4 sophomore B.J. Elder (15.1 ppg) and 6-10 freshman Chris Bosh (15.4 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 2.1 bpg). A second-team all-ACC selection, Bosh leads the league in field goal percentage and blocks while ranking second in rebounding and eighth in scoring. Elder, a third-team all-conference pick, is the ACC’s ninth-leading scorer, while he and Lewis rank among the league’s top 10 in three-point percentage.
Tickets, priced at $20 for reserved seats, will go on sale Monday at 8 a.m., on-line at www.ramblinwreck.com. Tickets may be purchased in person at the Georgia Tech Ticket Office, but fans are strongly encouraged to purchase on-line.
All tickets purchased on-line can be picked up at the Alexander Memorial Coliseum Will Call Window at Gate 1, beginning two hours prior to tipoff. Tickets can also be picked up at the Georgia Tech Ticket Office on the day of the game only, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Any remaining tickets will be on sale at Alexander Memorial Coliseum at Gates 1 and 2, beginning two hours prior to tipoff.
Due to NIT policy, Georgia Tech students must purchase tickets. A special student ticket, priced at $5, will be on sale in advance at the Georgia Tech Ticket Office and at Alexander Memorial Coliseum Gate 2, beginning two hours prior to tipoff. This discount applies to Georgia Tech students only, and a valid Buzz Card must be presented in order to purchase a student ticket.
