Turnovers mar Jackets’ victory

Georgia Tech snapped its two-game skid in less-than-emphatic fashion Tuesday.

The Jackets defeated Tennessee State 63-58 at Alexander Memorial Coliseum in a game that was in doubt most of the way.

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AP

Tech forward Gani Lawal (31) snags a rebound from Tennessee State forward Jerrell Houston during the Jackets’ 63-58 win over the Tigers at Alexander Memorial Coliseum.

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Forward Zachery Peacock picked a good time to play his best game of the season. He scored a game-high 22 on 9-of-11 shooting, adding seven rebounds and a block.

Tech trailed five minutes into the second half, and the Jackets (8-4) couldn’t shake the Tigers (3-9), thanks in part to 21 turnovers.

Playing against a matchup zone, the Jackets often were tentative.

“We were turning down shots and trying to make extra passes, trying to get something closer to the basket,” coach Paul Hewitt said. “We kept saying in the huddle, ‘If you’re open just shoot it, just take good shots, just take the shot that’s there.’ “

Peacock got the message. He scored Tech’s first nine points and carried Tech until Gani Lawal got on track after halftime. Lawal, who had a foul-plagued, scoreless first half, finished with 12 points and a career-high 16 rebounds.

Tennessee State entered with an RPI of 332 — out of 343 D-I teams. But the Tigers, who drew off of their upset of Illinois exactly a year ago, were not intimidated.

The Tigers came out aggressively, forcing five turnovers in the first seven minutes and taking a 14-9 lead. When Gerald Robinson Jr. cut back door for a layup, it was an 8-0 Tigers run. They led 39-37 lead with 14:50 left in the game.

With Tech trailing 21-20 in the first half, Peacock’s 12-footer sparked a 7-0 run. Lance Storrs connected from long range, then Peacock converted Iman Shumpert’s pass for a layup, and Tech led 33-26 at halftime.

Lawal quickly tied it, and Peacock’s 3-point play put Tech ahead for good. The lead never got comfortable, though. Lewis Clinch’s 3-pointer gave Tech its biggest margin, 54-44 with 6:31 left.

That was Clinch’s only basket: He had averaged 18.3 points over his past four games.

Shumpert had nine points and nine assists, and Alade Aminu had nine points and six rebounds. They also combined for nine turnovers.

Tech limited Robinson to 6-of-15 shooting. The sophomore point guard led the Tigers with 16 points, and Jerrell Houston added 11.

The win was Hewitt’s 150th at Tech. The Jackets are 150-116 in his nine-year tenure.

Tech visits Alabama (9-3) at 3 p.m. Saturday before concluding its nonconference schedule against Georgia on Jan. 6.

“We got the win, and now it’s about getting a day off, getting our legs rested, because we’ve gone pretty hard since Christmas night,” Hewitt said. “And get ready for Alabama.”

Despite the victory, Peacock said he was disappointed the Jackets never pulled away. He noted Tech gave up 15 offensive rebounds, which turned into 16 second-chance points.

“There were a lot of loose balls we didn’t get, and we didn’t do a good job on [their] offensive rebounding,” Peacock said. “I felt the lead should have been a little more.”