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The No. 6 seed Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets took advantage of a rare home court situation and defeated the No. 3 seed Indiana Hoosiers 75-63.
Georgia Tech opened the game hitting on their first three out of four shots with Josh Okogie hitting the first two baskets. Then the Yellow Jackets went on a 15-0 run to take a 17-4 lead behind Quinton Stephens eight points. “There’s nothing hold back. This is the last time I’m playing with these guys and the last time I’m playing in fans.
Georgia Tech’s defense was able to cause rushed shots by Indiana. Center Ben Lammers anchored the defense by blocking two shots including a dunk. in the first opening minutes.
The Hoosiers started a run of their own 11-2 after Georgia Tech went cold going scoreless for 4:01. Indiana started to find their rhythm capitalizing in the paint with 12 of their first 17 points in the game.
Georgia Tech continued to struggle as they went scoreless for another 3:00 as the Hoosiers tied the score 24-24 after taking advantage of back-to-back turnovers.
The Yellow Jackets not only gave up unforced errors but missed on opportunities from the free throw line only connecting on 5-11.
Both teams’ offense stalled late in the first half with Tech not making a field goal for the last 2:33 and Indiana going the last4:19 with none as well. The half ended with a 34-27 Georgia Tech lead.
Indiana open up the second half hitting two three points that sparked an 8-0 run to take a 39-38 lead. The intensity picked up as both teams traded basket and played good defense.
Reserve guard Tadric Jackson energized the team with scoring on a layup. Right after that he grabbed a steal and threw an out-pass to Okogie for a breakaway slam and then scored off an inbound play over the defender to put Tech up 47-46. Jackson ended up with 19 points going 7-13 from the field. “Tadric was really good in the second half defensively and those steals allowed the fast break points,” said coach Josh Pastner.
Tech kept it going pushing the lead to eight after a block and steal by Lammers. The Yellow Jackets scored 19 points off turnovers.
The Yellow Jackets continued to play stifling defense and closed the game by holding them to 2-8 shooting down the stretch. Lammers had a sequence where he blocked a dunk attempt and a put back right after each other for his 5th block of the game.
Okogie finished with a game high 24 points. The Yellow jackets had 17 assist and 24 made field goals.
Georgia Tech awaits the winner of Belmont vs. Georgia.
