Nov. 18, 2003
By PAUL NEWBERRY
AP Sports Writer
ATLANTA – B.J. Elder scored 17 points and Georgia Tech cruised to a 79-45 victory Tuesday over undermanned Louisiana-Lafayette in the opening round of the Preseason National Invitational Tournament.
Tech will host Hofstra in a second-round game at 7 p.m. Thursday night at Alexander Memorial Coliseum. The Pride eliminated Marist, 79-74, in a first-round game Tuesday night.
Tickets for this game are not included in season ticket packages and must be purchased separately. All seating will be general admission, and tickets, priced at $15 and $5 for students, will go sale at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 19 on the Georgia Tech website, www.ramblinwreck.com.
Tickets purchased on-line will can be picked up at Alexander Memorial Coliseum will call, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Tickets can also be purchased at the gate, cash only, beginning at the same time.
Georgia Tech had no trouble with the Ragin’ Cajuns, who used only eight players and had no one on the bench with any Division I experience. Brad Boyd, the leading scorer last season, was held to six points on 2-of-12 shooting.
Five Lafayette players – including former Georgia Tech signee Michael Southall – are ineligible for the fall semester. The Yellow Jackets took full advantage, keeping plenty of fresh legs on the court.
While four Lafayette players went at least 36 minutes, Georgia Tech had no one who played more than 33 and seven others who worked between 19 and 26 minutes.
Georgia Tech shot 53 percent from the field and dominated the boards (45-29). The only major flaw for the Yellow Jackets: 4-of-10 shooting at the foul line.
The Ragin’ Cajuns hit only 15-of-55 from the field, a dismal 27 percent.
Georgia Tech felt no immediate impact from the loss of Chris Bosh, who left school after just one season to enter the NBA draft. He was picked fourth overall and now plays for the Toronto Raptors.
Elder had 11 points in the first half and the Yellow Jackets closed with a 26-11 run, going to the locker room with a 38-21 lead. The Cajuns made only 6-of-24 shots before the break.
Georgia Tech pushed the margin as high as 36 points in the closing minutes.
Yellow Jackets center Luke Schenscher took a nasty lick just above the right eye while going up for a shot midway through the second half. No foul was called, but Schenscher left the game with blood rolling down his cheek.
Antoine Landry led Lafayette with 13 points. Chris Cameron was the only teammate in double figures with 10.
Isma’il Muhammad, despite being slowed by cramps, scored 13 points for the Yellow Jackets, Jarrett Jack added 12, and six other Georgia Tech players made the scoresheet.
