Brandon Reed launched a regrettable jump shot and bent himself on redemption. The Georgia Tech guard raced back on defense as Maryland pushed the ball upcourt, setting himself in Mychal Parker’s path and bracing for collision.
With Parker and Reed sprawled on the floor, the official ruled in Reed’s favor, calling Parker for a charge. On his back, Reed clapped his hands and smiled.
“It felt pretty good taking a charge,” he said.
Toughness is a central tenet of coach Brian Gregory’s style — rebounding, digging for loose balls, insistent defense. Perhaps more than at any other time in his first season, the Yellow Jackets embodied their coach’s ethos in a 63-61 win over the Terrapins on Saturday afternoon at Philips Arena.
“Second half, they were tougher than we were,” Maryland coach Mark Turgeon said. “[Tech’s] big guys kicked our big guys’ tails.”
Said Gregory, “That is the type of effort we’re supposed to give.”
The Jackets’ tenacity and improved play on offense procured a much-needed win. Tech (10-18 overall, 3-11 ACC) had lost four in a row and 14 of its past 16. On Tuesday, playing on tired legs and spent emotions, they were pasted 56-37 by Clemson, Tech’s puniest output since 1980. The win was a trophy for perseverance.
“I always tell the team, ‘Something good’s going to shake. Something good’s going to happen for us. Just keep fighting, keep pushing and keep practicing hard,’” guard Mfon Udofia said.
Udofia has been the Jackets’ beacon in this dispiriting season, a leader and pace-setter. He played perhaps the best game of his three seasons at Tech, doling out a career-high nine assists along with seven points and five rebounds. He forced Maryland guard Terrell Stoglin, the ACC’s leading scorer at 21.3 points per game, into 5-for-17 shooting for 18 points.
Said Udofia, “I just wanted to get the job done.”
The defense played by Udofia and his teammates swung the game in Tech’s favor. The Jackets jumped out early on hot outside shooting, but trailed 37-31 at halftime and fell behind 40-31 less than a minute into the second half on three Stoglin free throws. However, Maryland (16-12, 6-8) missed 20 of its first 22 field-goal tries in the second half, the product of Tech’s cohesive team defense and a few easy misses by the Terrapins.
The Jackets stayed in front of the ball and, when beaten, rotated to help each other seamlessly.
Said Gregory, “There was always someone there.”
From the 40-31 deficit, the Jackets scored 15 of the next 18 points over the next 7 1/2 minutes to take a 46-43 lead. The advantage grew to seven points before Maryland charged back and captured a 56-55 lead with 2:03 to go.
On the ensuing possession, Tech ran what Gregory called a perfectly executed set that created a lane for Udofia to drive for a basket and foul shot and a 58-56 lead. The Jackets held on for the remainder.
Without guard Glen Rice Jr. (suspended indefinitely) and backup center Nate Hicks (mononucleosis), several Jackets offered contributions. Forward Kammeon Holsey recorded the first double-double of his career (16 points, 10 rebounds) in perhaps the best game of his career. Guard Jason Morris opened the game with two 3-pointers after missing his previous 12. Guard Nick Foreman gave 15 solid minutes off the bench and scored eight points with two 3-pointers.
Reed tossed in his only 3-pointer of the game with 27 seconds remaining, a dagger that expanded Tech’s lead to five points.
Said Gregory, “He’d tell you it was just exactly what we were looking for.”
For a team aching for a win, it more than sufficed.
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