Georgia Tech looked like it was rolling to a blowout.
The Yellow Jackets instead snuck out of Cassell Coliseum, taking a 64-54 win over Virginia Tech Saturday afternoon. The Jackets still ended their 11-game ACC road losing streak in a game in which they led by as many as 25 points but saw their lead hacked to eight points at game’s end.
Georgia Tech held on with just enough plays on the offensive end, much of it provided by backup guard Brandon Reed. The junior from Powder Springs, replaced in the starting lineup by Chris Bolden, played one of his best games of the season, contributing nine points off the bench along with four assists.
He was instrumental as Tech swamped the Hokies in the first half, taking leads of 11-1, 25-8 and 33-13 en route to a 37-18 halftime lead. It was the fewest points Tech has allowed in an ACC game since coach Brian Gregory’s hire.
Forwards Kammeon Holsey and Marcus Georges-Hunt led Tech with 13 points apiece. Holsey got all of his points in the first half, when he made six of seven field-goal attempts in leading Tech’s strong start.
Tech also broke a four-game losing streak to Virginia Tech, the last two games of which came in overtime.
The game began to tighten after Georges-Hunt scored in the post to give Tech a 47-22 lead at about the 16:30 mark. From there, Virginia Tech went on a 15-1 run to draw to within 48-37 with about 10:30 remaining. The Jackets had a stretch in which they scored one point over 13 possessions.
Forward Robert Carter hit a 3-pointer out of a timeout to end the drought, after which the Jackets were able to hold off the Hokies.
Tech improved to 13-9 overall and 3-7 in the ACC. Virginia Tech fell to 11-12 and 2-8.
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