Georgia Tech goes in search of its first ACC win of the season tonight when the Yellow Jackets host 12th-ranked Notre Dame. Notre Dame, 15-2 overall and 3-1 in the ACC, won its first three ACC games before losing to #3 ranked Virginia, 62-56, at home Saturday night.
The Yellow Jackets were looking to exact some revenge against Notre Dame. They lost to the Irish 11 days ago and ended up on ESPN’s Top 10 for the wrong reason. The basketball team needed some of their football team’s mojo this season as they sit 0-3 in the ACC. Tonight’s game would mean a big win against a top 15 team and bring about their first win in the conference.
It was a tale of two halves for the Yellow Jackets. The first half was all Tech, taking the 38-30 lead into halftime. They led the entire half and managed to shoot 75% in 3FG. Chris Bolden was on fire the first half with a team-high 11 points and went 100% in 3-point attempts. Demarco Cox put in a heavy contribution with 10 points, 2 blocks, 2 steals, and 3 rebounds.
Cox also came through in the clutch in the second half with 5:00 to go, making 2 free throws to give Tech the lead 56-55. Notre Dame had owned most of the second half and even had questionable fouls go their way, including a technical. Jerian Grant had 12 points while V.J. Beachem contributed by going 3 of 5 from 3-point land.
More often now than ever, good teams are beating great teams because they’re peaking at the right time. The Irish were down the entire game but turned up the pressure when it mattered. During the final minutes the Yellow Jackets shot 2 of 9 and couldn’t get a foul to save their lives. Their largest lead was 12 points and they fell to the Irish by 3. It would’ve been 6 but Quinton Stephens hit a consolation 3-pointer with 2 seconds left.
The final score was Georgia Tech 59, Notre Dame 62. With this loss the Jackets fall to 0-4 in conference play.
