BOSTON COLLEGE ENDS TECH’S RUN

Yellow Jackets dig too big of a hole, as frenzied comeback falls short vs. BC.

With a chance to finish a disappointing and trying season with some fireworks, Georgia Tech lit a dud. In their first-round game at the ACC Tournament, the 13th-seeded Yellow Jackets started slowly, never led and were summarily bounced by No. 12 seed Boston College 87-77 on Tuesday afternoon.

Tech (13-19) staged a furious rally in the final 13 minutes, but it was not enough after falling behind by 20 points. Boston College (18-14) will move on to play No. 5 seed N.C. State today.

Five observations:

1. Many missed shots: The Jackets were never a particularly efficient offensive team this season, but were particularly errant in their shooting Tuesday. Tech was 10 for 33 in the first half, when the Jackets went into halftime down 36-26, including

1 for 7 from 3-point range. The struggle continued into the second half, when they missed their first nine fieldgoal tries.

At the point Boston College’s lead crested at 20 points (51-31) with 13:37 to play, Tech was shooting 10 for 42, a hard-to-believe 23.8 percent.

“We just weren’t real effective offensively,” coach Josh Pastner said.

At that point, Tadric Jackson was 3 for 10. Josh Okogie was 3 for 14. Freshman forward Moses Wright was 0-for-5.

“Tadric had some great looks,” Pastner said. “Josh had some great looks.”

■ 2. Off game for Okogie: Two days after earning third-team All-ACC recognition, Okogie played his way through what was easily one of the least productive offensive games of his career. He finished 5 for 20 from the field, his second-most missed field-goal attempts in his career. He finished with 14 points, two assists, four turnovers and two steals.

“I just wanted to see the ball go in a couple times, get to the free-throw line, but that never really happened,” Okogie said.

■ 3. A frenetic rally: After falling behind 51-31 with 13:37 to play, Tech made a push. Pastner put in forward Abdoulaye Gueye, who had played little since Pastner moved Wright into the starting lineup for the final four games of the regular season. Gueye’s quickness and reach helped Tech force seven turnovers in the final nine minutes. The turnovers were turned into 15 points, and Tech closed the lead to 72-65 with 2:31 to play and 81-75 with 45 seconds left.

“(Gueye’s) pressure on the ball was really tough,” Okogie said. “... His energy coming off the bench and his trapping and being everywhere allowed us to get steals and get in the passing lanes.”

Jackson was electric, scoring 23 points in the final 13:17 on 10-for-14 shooting from the field, along with three assists and two steals, both of which he converted into dunks. He finished with 29, tying his career high.

“It wasn’t all me,” he said. “It was definitely a team effort.”

However, the margin proved too great and Boston College’s free-throw shooting too accurate for the comeback to matter. It was another too-little, toolate comeback try, a theme of the season, which spoke to Tech’s admirable unwillingness to give in, but also its habit of falling behind.

“That’s who we’ve been all year long,” Pastner said.

■ 4. Lammers efficient: Center Ben Lammers was Tech’s only consistent offensive threat. He was 4 for 9 from the field and 10 for 12 from the line for 18 points. Lammers set career highs for free throws and attempts in the loss. He has been invited to participate in the NABC All-Star game at the Final Four in San Antonio (his hometown) and the Portsmouth Invitational, a predraft showcase camp.

“Obviously, it’s very sad knowing that this is the last game I’ll be able to play for Georgia Tech,” he said. “I’ve had a great time playing for the school.”

■ 5. Season comes to an end: Pastner’s second season ends at 13-19, with 12 losses in the final 15 games. Tech came to Brooklyn believing it had a chance to make a run. Of its first three potential opponents, the Jackets had lost to Boston College in overtime, beaten N.C. State and twice had Clemson on the ropes before falling.

“I thought we had a great draw,” Pastner said. “But I knew we had to win the first game, and we just didn’t take care of business.”

The season began in Shanghai under the shadow of NCAA violations and players being questioned (and cleared) by Chinese police and slogged through a string of injuries and off-court troubles. With a young lineup, Tech’s 6-12 record in the ACC was not entirely unsurprising.

“We’re excited for the long term,” Pastner said.

ABBIE PARR / GETTY IMAGES Ben Lammers was Georgia Tech’s only consistent offensive threat Tuesday against Boston College. He was 4 for 9 from the field and 10 for 12 from the line for 18 points.