The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jackets stumble late
Tech tripped up by 3-pointers, other familiar obstacles.
CHESTNUT HILL, MASS. — Ahead by 13 points in the first half and four points inside the final two minutes of regula- tion, Georgia Tech shot 50.9 percent from the field but lost
80-72 in overtime to Boston College on Sunday at Conte Forum. Hoping to build on a win over Syracuse, Tech (11- 12 overall, 4-6 ACC) tripped over familiar obstacles as Boston College (14-9, 4-6) scored 33 of its 80 points on 3-pointers. Five observa- tions from the game:
1. Not good enough on 3-point defense. The Jack- ets were attentive in bring- ing attention to guard Jerome Robinson, who came into the game making 45.1 per- cent of 3-point tries, first in the ACC. Robinson took just two 3-pointers (mak- ing both), below his aver- age of 5.1 attempts per game, though he still managed 19 points. However, via screens and ball movement, Boston College created numer- ous opportunities for his teammates. Jordan Chatman bagged five 3-pointers on 12 tries, often when Tech players were late in challenging. He finished with 19 points, tied for the game high with Robinson, who fouled out with 3:11 left in regulation. Chatman was averaging 11.9 points per game in ACC play.
“Chatman shouldn’t have been (open),” Tech coach Josh Pastner said. “That was part of our emphasis, but we closed out short a couple times. We didn’t run him off the 3, we didn’t take out that 3 as much as we talked about taking the 3 out, and that was the difference in the game.” Tech actually has improved at defending the 3. Boston College (11 for 23 from beyond the arc) was only the second team in 10 league games to successfully impair Tech with the 3-pointer. 2. Letting Eagles off the hook. The Jackets took a 28-15 lead at the 5:03 mark of the first half when point guard Jose Alvarado threw in a 3-pointer as the shot clock was about to expire. Tech had the chance to gain some distance on the Eagles before the half. However, as has been a weakness of theirs, the Jackets permitted Boston College to tighten the gap before halftime. Ky Bowman hit a 3-pointer over guard Tadric Jackson and then followed it on the next possession with another 3 when the Jackets failed to chal l enge him as he brought the ball upcourt. Two B.C. possessions later, Bowman found Chatman open for another 3. The half ended with Tech ahead 36-28, a decent lead but nothing approaching a knockout punch. “It seems to be a trend,” Ben Lammers said of Tech’s midgame lapses. The lead was gone by 14:31 of the second half. 3. Courageous per- formance. Tech received a boost from guard Brandon Alston, who has played two games since his father Michael died of a heart attack on Tuesday. Alston, a grad- uate transfer from Lehigh, was brilliant in the first half and scored 13 points, including a 3-pointer.
4. Missed opportunities. There was no shortage of missed opportunities for Tech to rue on the flight home. Playing all 45 minutes, Alvarado was 5 for 12 and turned the ball over four times (against four assists). Also playing all 45 minutes, Lammers tried to find Josh Okogie on a cutter late in the first half but missed. Forward Abdoulaye Gueye was 1 for 3 from the line, including the front end of a one- and-one with 49.6 seconds left in regulation and Tech ahead by three points. On the ensuing possession, Jackson left the 3-point arc to help on a drive. That left forward Steffon Mitchell open for a 3 from the corner, which he hit to tie the game with 35 seconds left.
Pastner pointed to the team’s 13 turnovers, all but one in regulation, as a frequent culprit. “We’re just not in a position where we can win turning the ball over more than nine times,” he said.
5. Breaking down overtime. Tech didn’t have much chance in overtime. Okogie fouled out with 1:36 left in regulation (Pastner tactfully said he wouldn’t comment on the call because he disagreed with it). The Jackets were a bit off their moorings without their leading scorer and engine.