The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georges-Hunt staying positive
Missed chances disappointing, but focus on next game.
Georgia Tech forward Marcus Georges-Hunt’s disappointment was obvious following the Yellow Jackets’ loss to Florida State on Saturday, but he retained his positive posture toward the season.
“I’m going to have flashes of the game in my head, but I’ve got to come ready and keep the energy because we have a quick turnaround,” Georges-Hunt said, referring to Tech’s Monday night home game against Clemson.
“Like I said in the past, you can’t get mad at yourself or mad at each other. You’ve got to stick together and keep your heads up because we’re fighting. We’re in every game.”
Asked, given his frustration, if he wanted to go home and do something like throw his television out the window, he replied, “I can’t go home and throw the TV because I want my TV.”
Georges-Hunt said he instead planned to go home to spend time with his family, including his 1-year-old son, Marcus Georges-Hunt Jr., pray and try to learn from his mistakes.
Georges-Hunt scored 17 points on 11 shots, including 2-for-3 from 3-point range, and tied his season highs with nine rebounds and five assists. He has scored in double figures in seven consecu- tive games.
Falling short: More went into losing the game than the final three minutes, in which the Jackets gave up a game-ending 9-0 run. Tech shot 35.6 percent from the field, its third-lowest rate of the season. The Seminoles are one of the ACC’s top shot-blocking teams, but they nearly doubled their average take with nine blocks against Tech. With the score tied 23-23 at the four-minute mark of the first half, the Jackets surrendered a 9-0 run to end the half, the same as in the second half.
“It was, I thought, the only four minutes that we didn’t play with the physicality, toughness, intensity level, that you need to play when you play a Florida State team, and I thought that really put us in a hole,” coach Brian Gregory said.
Due to the Seminoles’ 18 turnovers, the Jackets took 11 more shots (59 to 48) from the field but FSU made 45.8 percent of its attempts.
Etc.: Tech forward Robert Sampson tied his season high with nine rebounds. ... Florida State’s nine blocks were the most shots Tech has had blocked this season. ... FSU forward Jarquez Smith, from Haddock and Jones County High, scored 15 points (one shy of his career high) and had six rebounds and three blocks. The Seminoles were led in scoring by guard Xavier RathanMayes, who had 20 points. Guard Ron Cofer, from Fayetteville and Whitewater High, was held scoreless in 17 minutes.