Georgia Tech was bothersome on defense and scraped enough points together at the other end. The final product was the Yellow Jackets’ second win in ACC play, a 75-63 win over Clemson Thursday night at McCamish Pavilion.
Tech is 10-6 overall but, more importantly, 2-2 in the ACC, the first time that the Jackets have been .500 after four games in ACC play since the 2010-11 season. Where Tech’s upset win over then-No. 9 North Carolina on New Year’s Eve seemed like something of a bizarre fluke, the Jackets’ defeat of Clemson (11-5, 1-3) was hard-earned and legitimate, secured with challenging interior defense and a wide range of contributions on offense. Tech led nearly the entire way against a Clemson team that harbors NCAA tournament aspirations and to date has run one of the most efficient offenses in the country.
The Tigers’ shooting percentage (36.7 percent) and scoring output were both their second lowest of the season.
“It’s not a surprise because I saw it against North Carolina,” Clemson coach Brad Brownell said. “They’ve got a good system that they’re running this year that fits their personnel.”
Forward Quinton Stephens played a difference-making role for the Jackets, who next play at N.C. State on Sunday. Stephens, who has played consistently on defense but had a difficult time shooting, overcame a rough first half to score 13 of his season-high 16 points in the second half. He was essential in Tech finishing the game off by scoring on 12 of their final 16 possessions (not counting the last to run out the clock) to turn a potentially taut finish into a relatively comfortable one.
When the game was won
Clemson cut the lead to 51-46 with 7:55 to play on a basket in the lane by forward Jaron Blossomgame, the Chattahoochee High grad who led the Tigers with 20 points. After trading empty possessions, the Jackets scored on each of their next five possessions to push the lead to 61-51 with 4:43 to begin to secure the outcome. In the stretch, Heath scored a layup in transition and set up center Ben Lammers and Stephens for uncontested dunks.
Heath finished with a season-high eight assists against two turnovers.
Lammers leads again
The Tech center turned in another winning effort, this time with 23 points (one shy of his career high, set Saturday against Louisville) and 10 rebounds for his eighth double-double of the season. He demonstrated his value effectively on one possession early in the second half. He found Stephens on the perimeter for an open 3-point attempt, which he rebounded to extend the possession. Then, he was fouled in the post and made both free throws, part of his 7-for-7 night from the line.
“Ben Lammers is a real good player,” Brownell said. “I mean, he is really, really good.”
Clemson helps out
As was the case against North Carolina, Tech benefited from an unusually poor 3-point shooting effort from the opposition. Clemson had several clean looks at the basket from 3-point range, but finished 7-for-24, 29.2 percent. The Tigers had come into the game shooting 35.0 percent for the season from beyond the arc and 39.4 percent in their first three ACC games.
“We’re not a great shooting team, but we’re a darn good one,” Brownell said. “When you play Georgia Tech and Lammers is around the rim, it’s hard to score in there, so you’re going to have to make some threes.”
North Carolina was 5-for-26 from 3-point range against Tech, while Duke and Louisville were a combined 25-for-47 in their wins over the Jackets.
Point guards do their job
Pastner has given point guards Justin Moore and Heath a role something to game manager: You don’t have to win it, just don’t lose it. They were equal to the task Thursday, with a combined 11 assists against three turnovers, 11 points and six rebounds.
“They played the right way,” Pastner said. “They hit singles, they kept it simple, they were sound, and when they play like that, good things happen.”
Strong student turnout
The McCamish student was packed, at least in part due to the athletic department raffling off five 40-inch televisions after the game. It was the biggest turnout of the season for the student section, and Pastner heaped praise upon them for their support.
It was a welcome change for the Jackets, whose first two ACC home games included large amounts of fans for North Carolina and Louisville.
“It’s a lot more fun when the crowd’s cheering for you,” Lammers said.
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