Jan. 5, 2010
Box Score | Quotes | Post-game Quotes
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) – Trey Thompkins scored 20 points, Ricky McPhee hit two key baskets near the end and Georgia pulled off its first big win for new coach Mark Fox, knocking off No. 20 Georgia Tech 73-66 on Tuesday night.
Georgia Tech (11-3) was trying to match its victory total from last season. Instead,the Yellow Jackets failed to break a long drought at Stegeman Coliseum, where they haven’t won since Nov. 26, 1976.
With Georgia (8-5) clinging to a 53-52 lead, Thompkins got loose inside, made the basket and was fouled by Gani Lawal. A free throw completed the three-point play. After Lawal missed at the other end, Georgia took off running, Thompkins drew a foul and made both free throws for a 58-52 lead with 1:51 remaining.
With Georgia Tech pressing all over the court, McPhee got loose on the wing and swished an open 3-pointer for a 61-54 lead with 1:23 remaining. He followed with another basket off a drive, banking it in high off the backboard for his only two-point hoop of the game. Twelve of his 16 points came on 3-pointers; he added two free throws in the final minute to help seal the win.
Lawal scored 21 points but the Yellow Jackets went 3-of-12 from beyond the arc while managing only eight assists and committing 20 turnovers.
Georgia showed right away it could hang with the favored Yellow Jackets, ripping off a 10-1 spurt that included a dunk by Thompkins and two straight baskets by Travis Leslie. Trailing 16-8, Georgia Tech was forced to call an early timeout just to slow the Bulldogs.
Taking advantage of their superior talent, the Yellow Jackets pulled ahead 26-25 on Zachery Peacock’s follow of a miss by Iman Shumpert. But Georgia scored the final six points of the half for a 31-26 lead.
At the start of the second half, the Yellow Jackets again looked to have the upper hand when a turnover and fast break led to Favors’ dunk and a 36-33 lead. But Georgia didn’t wilt, answering right back with Dustin Ware’s 3-pointer.
