Georgia Tech survives scare to win home basketball opener
With his lumbering 6-foot-9 frame, a casual observer might perceive Georgia Tech’s Abdoulaye Gueye as a poor free throw shooter. In fact, his career percentage from the line entering Sunday’s game was 30 percent.
But the Senegal native was 6-for-8 from the line, including two crucial free throws with 7.6 seconds left, to help the Yellow Jackets turn aside pesky Bethune-Cookman 65-62 in the home opener at McCamish Pavilion on Sunday.
The Yellow Jackets had a one-point lead and Gueye wasn’t supposed to get the ball. It was inbounded to center Ben Lammers, who was told to hang onto it.
Lammers had a memory lapse – he realized it as soon as he passed the ball – and Gueye was quickly fouled. But the Bethune-Cookman team didn’t know that Gueye had spent extra time working on free throws after Saturday’s practice. He made 100 from the line when everyone else was getting dressed.
“I’m really proud of AD (Gueye) to stick those two free throws at the end,” Georgia Tech coach Josh Pastner said.
Bethune-Cookman had one possession left to tie the game. Malik Midland missed a defended 3-pointer from the corner and Brandon Tabb got the rebound, but was unable to get another shot away before time expired.
Four who mattered
Lammers: He showed his improved range early by stepping out to take a couple of mid-range jumpers. He showed his skills around the basket with a drive and a finger roll. He was his typical dominant force on the post. Lammers nearly had a triple double, finishing with 19 points, 13 rebounds and eight blocked shots.
Georgia Tech guard Brandon Alston: The experience brought by the graduate senior has helped bring stability to a young lineup until the two missing starters return. He had 14 points and five rebounds.
Georgia Tech guard Jose Alvarado: The freshman played 38 minutes and produced 18 points, six rebounds and five assists. Afterwards the Bronx native was kicking himself about going 0-for-3 on 3-point shots.
Bethune-Cookman guard Brandon Tabb: The senior was 8-for-17 on 3-point shots and scored 24 points. Tabb also had five rebounds, two steals and one blocked shot.
Turning point
Georgia Tech led 49-48 with 9:25 left when the Yellow Jackets went on a 7-0 run to take the lead for good. Lammers knocked down a pair of jumpers in the paint during that stretch.
Observations
The youth is evident: With two starters unable to play because of suspension, the Yellow Jackets are having to rely on their four freshman to carry the load. On Sunday Alvarado was second on the team in scoring and Moses Wright added eight rebounds. But Wright, Curtis Haywood and Evan Cole only combined for six points in 56 minutes.
Too many turnovers: Georgia Tech committed 19 turnovers – it had only 11 against UCLA – which led to 25 points for Bethune-Cookman. Likewise it did not allow the Yellow Jackets to get their defense set.
Worth mentioning
Okogie in a sling: Sophomore Josh Okogie had his injured left index finger re-wrapped by the doctors last week and was wearing it in a sling. Pastner said the bone had healed, but the injury had developed a slight infection. He said the doctors are waiting for the skin to heal around the area where the bone broke through before green-lighting Okogie’s return. Currently suspended because of an NCAA violation, Okogie is eligible to come back for the Dec. 3 games against Tennessee.
Perfect vs. MEAC: Georgia Tech has won both games against Bethune-Cookman. The Yellow Jackets improved to 31-0 against that conference
One and counting: Georgia Tech senior Tadric Jackson will need to sit out one more game to fulfill his punishment leveled by the NCAA. He can return for Thursday’s game against Texas.
They said it
Pastner on the close game: “Bottom line is until we get Tadric and Josh back, we’re going to be relying on our young guys. It’s just going to be a grind for us.”
Pastner on the turnovers: “We just don’t have that margin of error to be able to do that.”
Alvarado on Gueye’s free throws: “I personally thought he was going to make it. AD said he’s got it and we believe in him and he got it.”
Betune-Cookman coach Ryan Ridder on the takeaway from the loss: “You get an opportunity to play a high-major program on the road and get a chance to face some adversity. The more we can actually play together in these types of environment, the better we’re going to be in the long run.”
What’s next?
Georgia Tech have two more home games this week – Wednesday vs. Texas-Rio Grande Valley and Friday against North Texas.
This story was originally published November 19, 2017 at 6:19 PM with the headline "Georgia Tech survives scare to win home basketball opener."