A week after one of its most impressive wins of the season, Georgia Tech fell hard.
The Yellow Jackets floundered in a 56-42 loss to Miami Saturday at McCamish Pavilion. It’s Tech’s lowest total since a 54-36 loss to the same Hurricanes in the opening round of the ACC tournament in 2012.
Tech shot a season-low 29.5 percent from the field, including 4-for-20 from 3-point range. The Jackets finished their three-game homestand 1-2, the lone win their hope-inspiring 74-69 win over Notre Dame last Saturday.
Tech sputtered in the first half, scoring just 17 points in the first 20 minutes. The Jackets had difficulty connecting on passes, creating open shots for one another and, certainly, making baskets. Tech had nine turnovers in 27 first-half possessions and made five of 19 shots, including 2-for-10 from 3-point range.
Tech had little answer for Miami’s matchup zone, a defense that the Hurricanes switched to at the start of the ACC season with great effect. In four ACC games prior to Saturday, the Hurricanes had held opponents to 36.1 percent shooting from the field.
The Jackets had trouble creating openings in the zone, often passing the ball around the perimeter with no advantage gained. When Tech began having success driving to the basket and drawing fouls, which helped cut an 18-point lead down to nine at 44-35 with 5:23 to play, the Jackets couldn’t help themselves at the line. They shot 12-for-18 from the line in the game, 7-for-12 in the second half.
Tech (10-8 overall, 1-4 ACC) was led by guard Trae Golden with 12 points. Miami (10-7, 2-3) received 16 points from guard Manu Lecomte.
