Adam Smith leads Georgia Tech past Duquesne
Adam Smith scored 17 points, including four crucial 3-pointers, and Georgia Tech warmed up for conference play with a 73-67 win over Duquesne in a game that had a postseason feel.
The Yellow Jackets played from behind throughout the first half. Duquesne scored the first seven points, and Georgia Tech didn't take a lead until 1:16 was left in the half. Georgia Tech began to shoot the ball better in the second half and heightened its defensive intensity, which led to a 12-0 run that tipped things in its favor.
Georgia Tech once again won the battle on the glass, outrebounding the Dukes 44-39. The Yellow Jackets have been outrebounded only twice this season.
Micah Mason scored 17 to lead Duquesne and made 5-of-10 on 3s. But Mason scored only three points in the second half as the Yellow Jackets did a nice job keeping a hand in his face.
Georgia Tech (10-3) has won three straight since its loss at Georgia.
THREE WHO MATTERED
Smith: The senior guard's four 3-pointers made the big difference. Two came during Georgia Tech's second-half surge that put the game away. Smith was 3-for-3 from the free-throw line and had a pair of rebounds.
Marcus Georges-Hunt: The senior scored 20 points for the third time this season and bounced back nicely from his poor offensive showing against Colgate. Georges-Hunt made 6-of-10 free throws and added six rebounds and four assists. His defense can't be overlooked and was instrumental in slowing Duquesne's prolific outside game.
Nick Jacobs: The senior responded to his return to the starting lineup by producing 14 points and nine rebounds. It was his most points since the 23 he scored in the second game of the season against Tennessee. The nine rebounds matched his season high.
TURNING POINT
The Yellow Jackets went on the 12-0 run late in the second half to surge ahead. The stretch included a pair of 3-pointers from Smith and another from Josh Heath. Georgia Tech held Duquesne scoreless for nearly six minutes to take control of the game.
OBSERVATIONS
Back to the future: Georgia Tech started Jacobs at forward instead of James White, who got the nod in the previous two games. Jacobs was joined by guards Georges-Hunt and Smith, point guard Josh Heath and forward Charles Mitchell, who have started all 13 games. White and Travis Jorgenson were the first substitutes.
At last a technical foul: Duquesne head coach Jim Ferry received a technical foul with 2:42 left in the first half. That marked the first technical foul that has been called in any of Georgia Tech's 13 games. Ferry was outraged when an official reversed his call on a loose ball that bounced off two Dukes. Possession originally was given to Duquesne, but the trailing official had a clearer view, saw there was no Georgia Tech player in the area and reversed the call. Ferry, who was already unhappy, went into a rage and got teed up.
Ben Lammers keeps improving: It appears that Lammers is growing into a dependable reserve. Lammers had five points, six rebounds and three blocks in 15 hard-played minutes.
THEY SAID IT
Head coach Brian Gregory on performance of Lammers: “Ben Lammers was the player of the game. That was the best one-basket performance I’ve seen in my coaching career.”
Gregory on the overall performance of the team: “From the 12-minute mark until one minute was left, I thought we played exceptionally well. It was a good win against a quality team.”
Georges-Hunt on the slow start: “They were full throttle. They wouldn’t miss. It was a game of runs and we got our runs, too. Eventually we snapped out of it and too off from there.”
WHAT'S NEXT?
Georgia Tech opens ACC play Saturday, traveling to Chapel Hill to play No. 7 North Carolina.
This story was originally published December 29, 2015 at 9:23 PM with the headline "Adam Smith leads Georgia Tech past Duquesne ."