Feb. 6, 2007
ATLANTA (AP) -Javaris Crittenton scored 21 points, including 8 points in an 18-0 run in the second half, and Georgia Tech rallied from an early 15-point deficit to beat North Carolina State 74-65 on Tuesday night.
Georgia Tech forced 18 turnovers, including 11 in the second half when its defense sparked the decisive run. Crittenton, a freshman, helped force N.C. State senior Engin Astur into six turnovers and 1-for-9 shooting from the field.
Georgia Tech held the Wolfpack scoreless for almost 8 minutes and without a field goal for more than 11 minutes as it turned a 56-45 deficit into a 63-56 lead.
Thaddeus Young, also a freshman, scored 15 points and yet another freshman, Zach Peacock, added 11, for Georgia Tech.
Gavin Grant and Brandon Costner each scored 17 points for N.C. State. Ben McCauley added 16 and Courtney Fells had 13.
Georgia Tech (15-8 overall, 4-6 Atlantic Coast Conference) moved past N.C. State (13-9, 3-6) in the ACC standings.
The Wolfpack, riding the momentum created by back-to-back wins last week over then-No. 16 Virginia Tech and No. 3 North Carolina, raced to an early 17-2 lead. N.C. State’s first two baskets came on 3-pointers from Grant and Fells, but it then directed its attack inside at McCauley.
N.C. State led 35-21 with 4:10 left in the first half. Georgia Tech finished the half strong, with Crittenton sinking an unlikely 3-pointer from about 70 feet as the buzzer sounded to end the half. Crittenton launched the shot from just inside the 3-point line on N.C. State’s end of the court, cutting the Wolfpack’s lead to 43-35.
Georgia Tech stretched its defense when possible throughout the game, but the pressure only became a factor for an extended period of time midway through the second half.
N.C. State led 56-45 before the Yellow Jackets’ defense sparked the 18-0 run that gave them their first lead.
N.C. State went almost 8 minutes without scoring following a field goal by McCauley with 14:15 left. Costner ended the run with two free throws with 6:34 left but the Wolfpack didn’t end its field-goal drought until McCauley scored with 3 minutes left.
