Jackets can’t score upset vs. Syracuse

It had the grace of a street fight and the agony of a toothache.

With the aid of Syracuse’s defense, Georgia Tech turned in one of the poorest offensive performances of coach Brian Gregory’s four seasons and squandered a chance for a momentum-boosting upset in a 46-45 loss to the Orange Wednesday night at McCamish Pavilion.

Tech shot 26.3 percent for the game, the lowest percentage dating at least to Gregory’s hire. The Jackets were 5-for-29 in the second half, when both teams scored 18 points in 27 possessions each. Tech controlled the backboards again, but to little avail. The Jackets hauled in 19 offensive rebounds for the game, but they turned into just nine points.

“That just wasn’t on offensive rebounds,” coach Brian Gregory said. “We had countless layups that we missed, a couple on the break, a couple dunks off some really good offensive action. We have to finish better.”

Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim, leading the Orange in their first-ever visit to Tech’s campus, was even less unsparing of his team’s offensive play (34.6 percent shooting, 12 turnovers).

“I don’t like to get negative,” Boeheim said. “I’m trying to change my posture. Without a doubt, the worst offensive game I’ve ever seen. I can’t say anything else. I mean, literally. I mean, really. I just can’t even describe it.”

It should perhaps be noted that Boeheim was coaching his 1,283rd career game.

“They’re a very good defensive team, we’re a very good defensive team,” Boeheim said. “Or else, they’re a very, very bad offensive team and we’re a very, very bad offensive team. Take your choice.”

In the space of five days, Tech (9-5 overall, 0-2 ACC) has played two likely NCAA tournament teams near even, but has nothing to show for it. The Jackets lost in double overtime at then-No. 14 Notre Dame on Saturday and followed it with the last-possession defeat to Syracuse (11-4, 2-0). With one more play made in each game, perhaps the Jackets would be celebrated for their obvious defensive tenacity, rebounding strength and undying effort. Instead, they’re headed to Wake Forest for a game Saturday in need of a win.

“We’ll fight,” Gregory said. “That’s what we do. That’s who we are.”

Unfortunately for the Jackets, inefficient basket production also appears to be part of the identity. Tech entered the game 217th in Division I in field-goal percentage (42.7 percent) and 345th out of 345 teams in 3-point percentage (23.9 percent). At times, Tech played with discipline against Syracuse’s vaunted 2-3 zone defense, patiently working the ball to find gaps in the middle to attack, or pushing the pace to get open looks before the Orange could set up. However, the Jackets mixed that with 14 turnovers and 3-for-17 shooting from 3-point range. Center Demarco Cox, a 56.2 percent shooter, was 2-for-10.

Tech had an opportunity after taking a 41-37 lead with 8:51 to play on a 3-pointer by guard Travis Jorgenson on an assist from Cox, which forced a Boeheim timeout. However, Tech failed to score over the next five possessions, three times failing even to get a shot on the rim. Syracuse went on a 7-0 run, and the two teams clawed their way home.

“What we can’t do is, even in a 40-minute game, in a game like that, you can’t take five or six bad shots, and we did,” Gregory said.

Tech still had a chance to win the game after Syracuse forward Rakeem Christmas gave the Orange the 46-45 lead with a pair of free throws with 12.4 seconds remaining, the last of his game-high 18 points. Gregory got the ball to forward Marcus Georges-Hunt, who gave the ball up to guard Chris Bolden, who missed a 3-pointer. Forward Quinton Stephens missed a putback as time ran out.

“We were just playing the percentages that they weren’t going to make a shot because they hadn’t made any,” Boeheim said. “We didn’t want to let ’em get it inside. We wanted them to throw it out, and if they make a three, then it’s just one of those things.”

Tech forward Charles Mitchell led Tech with 17 rebounds and 11 rebounds, his fifth double-double of the season.

Said Mitchell, “I wish I got one more offensive rebound coming down to the end of the game.”