After a 2-for-10 game against Syracuse, Georgia Tech center Demarco Cox responded with a strong game against Wake Forest on Saturday.
In the Yellow Jackets’ loss, Cox made six of seven shots for 14 points to go with seven rebounds, his first double-digit scoring game in the past six. His defense of Wake Forest forward Devin Thomas was effective, relatively speaking, as Thomas scored 17 points after scoring a combined 55 in the previous two games. He also contributed two steals, matching his season high.
“I’ve kind of been in a slump, so I’ve been trying to figure out a way how I’m going to get out of this slump,” Cox said.
Cox, though, took his final shot with 15:43 remaining in the second half. He played an additional 13:53 without an attempt, taking two free throws. The Jackets’ two best scorers by percentage, Cox (52.5 percent going into the game) and forward Charles Mitchell (53.4 percent) shot a combined 12-for-16, while the rest of the team shot 16-for-45. Coach Brian Gregory said earlier this week that he’d like for them to shoot between 14 and 20 times each game.
“We do have to get the ball in there a little more, especially when they’re scoring,” Gregory said.
Off at the line: After making 37 of 44 free throws the past three games (84.1 percent), Tech regressed with an 8-for-17 game against Wake Forest. Tech entered the game at 66.2 percent, 10th in the ACC.
Forward Marcus Georges-Hunt, who had made 47 of his past 55 and had a string of 20 in a row broken in the Syracuse game, was 5-for-11. Georges-Hunt took a pounding on drives to the basket, had six rebounds and two steals, but repeatedly came up short at the line.
Gregory said that “concentration at the free-throw line was not where it needs to be today from guys who are shooting exceptionally well from the free-throw line.”
In the game: Guard Corey Heyward got his first playing time since the Appalachian State game Dec. 15. Heyward, who has been stuck behind point guards Travis Jorgenson and Josh Heath, played six minutes in the first half with two points and an assist. Gregory tweaked the usual rotation because of foul trouble and to try to give the team a jump.
“For the first time, I didn’t think we played with the energy level that we normally play with,” Gregory said.
First win: Wake Forest coach Danny Manning, in his first season after replacing Jeff Bzdelik, earned his first career ACC win after opening conference play with three losses.
Said Gregory of the Demon Deacons, “I think they’re starting to get a little better feel for what they’re trying to do.”
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