Tech uses balanced attack to win third straight
Perhaps a benefit from Georgia Tech losing two of its top two returning scorers for the first part of the season is the opportunity to develop additional scorers.
On Friday afternoon, the Yellow Jackets had four players in double figures and cruised to a 63-49 win over North Texas at McCamish Pavilion.
The Yellow Jackets (3-1) have won three straight since their season-opening loss to UCLA in China. In the process, head coach Josh Pastner has been able to see the new faces take advantage of their opportunity to play.
The new face who stepped up on Friday was Curtis Haywood. The freshman scored a career-high 15 points in 33 minutes. It was easily his best all-around game of the season.
It helped to get senior guard back from a three-game suspension. He only played 22 minutes, but scored 14 points in his first appearance of the season.
Three who mattered
Georgia Tech guard Jose Alvarado: The freshman from Brooklyn, N.Y., continues to prove his worth. He scored a career-high 19 points and added seven rebounds and two assists. Alvarado played 39 minutes, a pattern that seems to be developing, and scored 12 of the team’s first 22 points.
Georgia Tech forward Curtis Haywood: The freshman shot 5-for-9 from the floor, with all five coming on 3-pointers. Haywood played 33 minutes and also had five rebounds and four assists.
Georgia Tech center Ben Lammers: The senior only played 32 minutes, but still came up with 11 points, four rebounds and three blocks.
Turning point
Haywood knocked down a pair of 3-pointers during a second-half stretch that allowed the Yellow Jackets to take a 21-point lead at 34-13.
Observations
Better on the 3-pointers: Alvarado was 0-for-3 on 3-pointers against Bethune-Cookman. He made 2-for-4 against North Texas. Georgia Tech was 7-for-18 on 3-pointers, an acceptable 38.9 percent.
Defense does it: North Texas shot only 39.1 percent from the field. Most of those points came from the outside, where eight of the Mean Green’s 18 points came from beyond the arc.
The Four Freshmen: Georgia Tech’s four first-year players combined for 38 points Friday. In addition to Alvarado and Haywood, Moses Wright added four points.
Helping out: Georgia Tech had 16 assists on 23 field goals. That’s an important metric for Pastner, who wants to see the ball move quickly around the floor.
Worth mentioning
Tech without two: The Yellow Jackets were playing without suspended forward Josh Okogie (who can return for the Tennessee game) and point guard Justin Moore, who must sit out one more game.
The small lineup worked: Georgia Tech was able to use a smaller lineup with some success. It all starts with the 6-foot Alvarado, normally the smallest guy on the court.
Turning down turnovers: The Yellow Jackets had only six turnovers on Friday, which led to only four North Texas points. North Texas turned it over 19 times, leading to 14 points for the Yellow Jackets.
They said it
Georgia Tech head coach Josh Pastner on the win: “That was a good win. We got a way to get it done through out defense. It was a good, gutty win.”
Pastner on center Ben Lammers: “I really hope fans appreciate Ben Lammers and come watch him play this year. He works his tail off and is an unbelievable representative of Georgia Tech.”
What’s next?
Georgia Tech hosts Northwestern at 7 pm. Tuesday as part of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.
This story was originally published November 24, 2017 at 7:38 PM with the headline "Tech uses balanced attack to win third straight."