Not many fans were in the building to see it, but Georgia Tech earned a quality win Tuesday night at McCamish Pavilion, withstanding a contentious effort by VCU to win 77-64.
The Yellow Jackets (7-2) gave a performance that was at times sloppy, perhaps indicative of the VCU’s defensive heat and also Tech’s 10-day break for final exams. But the effort was by and large determined and underscored by timely contributions in the second half from guard Tadric Jackson and forwards Marcus Georges-Hunt and Quinton Stephens. VCU (5-4), which has played in the past five NCAA tournaments, played its typically aggressive and physical defense, but Tech solved it in the second half with transition scores and ball movement.
Attendance for the game, which had a 9 p.m. tipoff, was announced at 5,219, but appeared significantly smaller.
Improvement against pressure
In the first half, the Rams were often successful with their trademark defensive pressure against Tech. The Jackets turned the ball over eight times in their 34 first-half possessions, 23.5 percent. Among other miscues, Georges-Hunt traveled against a double team, Stephens got trapped on the sideline off an inbounds pass and threw the ball into the backcourt and guard Josh Heath turned the ball over when pressured making a pass.
Tech could have used point guard Travis Jorgenson, who rolled his ankle in practice a few days ago. He dressed for the game, but did not play. Jorgenson has just five turnovers in 136 minutes this season.
Tech was better in the second half, turning the ball over seven times in the 39 possessions in the final 20 minutes.
“That is a very, very good team that we just beat tonight,” coach Brian Gregory said. “Difficult to play against, play extremely hard, really force you to make basketball plays and never lose your concentration.”
Checking Melvin Johnson
Georges-Hunt was primarily responsible for defending VCU forward Melvin Johnson, who came into the game averaging 19.9 points and was second in the country with 4.13 3-pointers per game. Heath also took turns on him, as did Jackson and Stephens. Johnson got his points – he finished with 17 – but it took him 17 shots and he only scored six after halftime.
“They made him take some tougher looks than he normally takes,” VCU coach Will Wade said.
Boost from subs
Jackson and Stephens gave the Jackets a big lift when Georges-Hunt left the game with 18:34 remaining in the second half with his third foul. When Johnson hit a 3-pointer over Heath to give the Rams a 32-29 lead, it appeared Tech was in danger of losing control, but Jackson answered with a drive in the lane and later a steal that led to free throws to take the lead back at 35-34. The Jackets never trailed again.
“I wasn’t all that comfortable at that particular moment (after the Johnson 3-pointer) with (Georges-Hunt) on the bench, but guys are gaining more trust in each other,” Gregory said. “I’m gaining more trust in them.That’s part of the process.”
A 3-pointer from Stephens forced a VCU timeout with the Rams down 42-36, and he dropped a second 3-pointer to push the lead to 45-36 with 13:07 to play.
Gregory also praised forward James White, who contributed six points and four rebounds in 10 minutes of play in the second half, including an emphatic tip dunk.
“I was excited for them that they stepped up and were ready for it when their name was called,” Georges-Hunt said. “It kind of (stunk) getting three fouls so quick, but the depth and the things everybody brings - everybody brings something different.”
Savvy play late
After Georges-Hunt returned to the game, Tech continued with some smart plays to fend off a VCU challenge over the next several minutes. Guard Adam Smith exploited an opening for a layup and then drew a foul on the dribble to go to the line for two points. After Charles Mitchell saved a possession with a behind-the-back fling going out of bounds, Georges-Hunt probed with the dribble in the lane to draw in the defense, then slipped a pass to a wide-open Mitchell under the basket for a 57-48 lead.
Said Gregory, “I thought that second half was the best basketball that we’ve played,” Gregory said.
In the half, Tech shot 53.6 percent from the field while holding VCU to 28.9 percent, made 17 of 18 free throws and outrebounded the Rams 22-15.
Beat goes on
Mitchell extended his double-double streak to nine games with 12 points to go with 11 rebounds. He secured the double-double with his 10th board with 1:14 to play. His streak of nine is the longest for Tech in the school’s ACC era.
“I didn’t think today was one of his better games of the nine,” Gregory said. “But what he is is he plays with an extreme amount of energy on offense and he’s very efficient. … It’s pretty good when the coach says he didn’t think he played as well as he has been adn he still gets a doulble-double.”
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