Tadric Jackson scores at buzzer to lift Yellow Jackets over Northwestern
ATLANTA — Tadric Jackson hit a layup at the buzzer, Ben Lammers scored 13 points and Georgia Tech rallied in the closing seconds to beat Northwestern 52-51 on Tuesday night.
Jackson took a pass on the left side from Jose Alvarado and drove through the lane past two defenders to score at the rim. His basket set off a wild celebration for Georgia Tech (4-1).
Jackson, in his first start and second game back since serving a three-game suspension for receiving gifts in violation of NCAA rules, finished with 10 points on 4 for 13 shooting.
Bryant McIntosh scored 18 points, Vic Law added 12 and Dererk Pardon had 10 points and 12 rebounds for Northwestern (4-3). Scottie Lindsey began the game averaging a team-high 17.8 points, but he went scoreless, missing five 3-point attempts and three other shots.
The Yellow Jackets overcame an 8-minute stretch with no field goals to blow a 10-point lead when Bryant McIntosh’s runner put Northwestern up 49-47 with 2:22 to play. That ended a 12-0 run and gave the Wildcats their first lead since early in the first half.
Northwestern led 51-50 on Pardon’s putback with 7.1 seconds remaining. Georgia Tech coach Josh Pastner called timeout and had Lammers, his center, throw an inbound pass to Alvarado, who was told to look first for Lammers on the other end. With Lammers defended well, Alvarado passed to Jackson.
Early in the second half, a Lammers layup gave Georgia Tech its first double-digit lead at 39-29.
Northwestern pulled within five on Law’s dunk with 9:51 remaining, but the Jackets went back up by 10 on Jackson’s 3 less than 2 minutes later.