It didn’t matter so much that the opponent was not of great quality or that the ensuing video review would reveal its share of flaws.
It didn’t matter to Georgia Tech’s fans, who rose in appreciative applause when the Yellow Jackets’ 51-47 win over Boston College became all but certain, or to the Jackets themselves.
“Everybody in the locker room right now is going crazy,” Tech guard Mfon Udofia said.
The Jackets ended their six-game losing streak and claimed their first win at Philips Arena by out-scrapping the Eagles on Saturday afternoon. After absorbing losses to ACC heavyweights Duke, North Carolina, Virginia and Florida State, among others, in the first half of their league schedule, the Jackets undid a team of more similar aptitude with an improved offensive game, defensive grind and some timely shot making.
“We’ve just got to keep working hard and keep on knocking away at the rock and one day that rock is going to break,” said guard Pierre Jordan, paraphrasing coach Brian Gregory’s encouragement to the team. “Hopefully, this game right here was a turning point and a breaking point to a whole different season for us.”
The Jackets (9-14 overall, 2-7 ACC) tied their high in assists in conference play with 12 (on 20 baskets) and recorded nine turnovers, the first time they compiled more assists than turnovers in the past 10 games. Boston College (7-16, 2-7) lost its sixth consecutive game.
“We shared the ball much better [Saturday], and I think we actually drove the ball looking to create something for someone else, which is something that had to be taught to these guys,” Gregory said.
While he failed to score, Udofia collected six assists, tying his season and career high, against no turnovers.
“He made really good decisions,” Gregory said. “He was under control the entire game.”
Tech’s perimeter players found big men Kammeon Holsey and Daniel Miller in the post more frequently, a Gregory priority. The two were a combined 9-for-13, each scoring 10. It was the first time they both scored in double figures since the Jackets’ win over Georgia in the ninth game of the season.
The two worked a deft possession late in the game, with Miller setting up Holsey with a bounce pass into the post for a jump hook and a 46-44 lead with 2:56 to play. A clutch tip-in by guard Glen Rice Jr., free throws by guard Brandon Reed and Rice and enough defense to prevent the Eagles from scoring another basket enabled the Jackets to hold the lead the rest of the way.
As has often been the case in ACC play, the Jackets played a better offensive game in the second half than the first. Tech went into halftime leading 20-19. Only two free throws by guard Nick Foreman with under a minute to play in the half kept Tech from its fourth sub-20-point first half in its past seven games.
However, Tech stayed in the game with a combination of consistent half-court defense and Boston College’s offensive inefficiencies. Tech did better at staying in front of the ball and challenging 3-pointers. Also, the Eagles are the ACC’s lowest-scoring and poorest shooting team and often looked the part.
Over the final 7:38 of the first half, both teams shot a combined 2-for-18 with eight turnovers, seven by Boston College. They traded missed dunks in one two-possession sequence.
“Neither team is a very good offensive team,” Boston College coach Steve Donahue said. “I think what you see, I think, [is] kids trying to do what their coach wants, playing as hard as they can.”
Playing before an announced crowd of 5,871, including Tech football coach Paul Johnson, the Jackets raised their play in the second half, making 12 of 26 shots and taking advantage of Boston College center Ryan Clifford’s extended foul trouble. They never trailed in the final nine minutes.
The Jackets’ next game is 7 p.m. Thursday at Philips Arena against N.C. State.
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