The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Erratic Jackets fall to Irish
Slew of missed layups, turnovers plague Tech, hurt NCAA chances.
SOUTH BEND, IND. — Georgia Tech did enough to challenge No. 21 Notre Dame on Sunday night. But the Yellow Jackets made enough mistakes to cost themselves an upset.
Tech fell 64-60 in a game it trailed for the final 28:56. While Tech shot a respectable 44.8 percent from the field, coach Josh Pastner agonized over a bundle of possessions squandered with turnovers and missed layups, two familiar pitfalls this season.
“When we miss those layups, it’s literally days, maybe years off
my life because it just eats at me,” he said. “Because I know, every possession, we can’t afford to miss those layups.”
The Yellow Jackets (16-13 overall, 7-9 ACC) have surrendered just about all wiggle room to make their case for the NCAA tournament selection committee. The Jackets had the opportunity for a road win over a RPI top-25 team and improve their RPI ranking (96 going into the game) by perhaps 15 slots.
With the loss, Tech may not be able to afford another defeat in its final two regular-season games, which come Tuesday at home against Pittsburgh in a quick turnaround and Saturday at Syracuse.
According to CBS Sports bracketologist Jerry Palm, in the 23 years that he has tracked tournament selections, only seven teams have earned at-large bids with 14 losses (which Tech would take with an ACC tournament loss). None has made it with 15.
Notre Dame (22-7, 11-5) was led by forward Bonzie Colson’s 20 points, a total that included a 3-for-3 effort from 3-point range as he drew center Ben Lammers away from the basket.
Where the game was lost
With Notre Dame ahead 52-48 with under four minutes to play, Lammers blocked a Colson shot, his fourth block of the game. By gaining possession, the Jackets could have cut the score to two or one after trailing by as many as eight earlier in the half.
However, the Jackets were not able to secure the ball and, with the shot clock about to expire, Notre Dame guard Matt Farrell scrambled to win the loose ball in the corner and then threw up a desperation jump shot falling away from the basket. The shot was true for a 6-point lead. After Lammers missed a quick jumper at the other end, Notre Dame guard Steve Vasturia scored on a reverse at the 3:01 mark for a 56-48 lead that put the game out of reach.
Okogie hot, then he cools off
Guard Josh Okogie was searing out of the blocks, playing aggressively on the glass and finding opportunities in transition. Attacking the basket, Okogie took seven of Tech’s first 10 shots, making four of them for nine points, to help lift the Jackets to a 13-9 lead at the 14:23 mark. It proved to be Tech’s largest lead of the game.
The freshman scored just two baskets the rest of the game, finishing with 14 points on 6-for-16 shooting. He missed some makeable drives and layup attempts.
“Just mental lapses,” said Okogie, who had 10 rebounds for the third double-double of his career. “Just got to focus in and execute those. Those were definitely on me.”
Tech was led by guard Tadric Jackson, who scored 16 of his team-high 20 points in the second half, taking shots when teammates seemed a little gun-shy to put the ball up.
Stephens’ rough night
Forward Quinton Stephens was not effective, compiling two points on 1-for-5 shooting, four rebounds and three turnovers before fouling out with 1:24 to play. It was his first disqualification since early last season. He scored his only basket at the 11:04 mark of the second half.
He was involved in a pivotal play of the game two minutes later. With Notre Dame leading 48-42, Stephens tipped in a miss by Lammers but was called for a foul on the play, wiping out the basket and sending him to the bench with his fourth foul.
Defended well enough to win
Tech defended Notre Dame with typical fortitude. The Irish shot 35.1 percent, their lowest mark of the season and well below their ACC average of 45.4 percent. With Lammers protecting the paint — Notre Dame shot 10 for 28 (35.7 percent) inside the arc — more than half of the Irish field-goal attempts were 3-point tries. Prior to the game, Notre Dame coach Mike Brey pronounced Lammers the best rim protector in the ACC.
Giveaways
The Jackets cost themselves dearly with 14 turnovers, torching 20.3 percent of their possessions while Notre Dame, which excels at controlling the ball, turned it over just eight times. Several of Tech’s turnovers came on entry passes into the post that were well defended or poorly executed or both.
Notre Dame won the points off turnovers category 11-4.