Georgia Tech Outlasts Clemson in Double Overtime, Snaps Five-Game Losing Streak

Georgia Tech is now 9-8 after their win vs Clemson tonight

Another close ACC battle on the road for Georgia Tech ends with defeat. 

The Yellow Jackets have been playing in a lot of close games lately, but they have not been able to find a way to finish them. Tonight, they were up against the Clemson Tigers, who are thought to be a contender in the ACC and gave them a good fight. But this time, they were able to close out and beat the Tigers and snap their five-game losing streak.

This is one of the most tightly contested games that the Yellow Jackets have played this season. Neither team built a big lead to where they were comfortable and in the end, Clemson missed some clutch free throws and freshman point guard Nait George had his biggest game of the season. It seems that Damon Stoudamire has this team playing competitive basketball every night and it paid off tonight. 

Georgia Tech went back to their usual starting lineup tonight. Nait George, Miles Kelly, Kowacie Reeves, Baye Ndongo, and Ebenezer Dowuona were the first five on the floor for the Yellow Jackets. 

The first half saw back-and-forth play and a tightly contested game. Two things stood out though. Clemson had a big rebounding advantage over Georgia Tech and the Yellow Jackets were having a better evening shooting from three. 

Clemson did get the lead up to 25-16, but a 14-7 run from Georgia Tech to close out the half closed the lead to 32-30. 

Georgia Tech shot 35% from the field and from three in the first half, while Clemson shot 41% from the field and 22% from three. Clemson held a 23-13 rebounding edge over Georgia Tech and PJ Hall had a fantastic first half for the Tigers, scoring 13 points and grabbing nine rebounds. Nait George had eight points and two assists. 

Kyle Sturdivant vs Clemson / Georgia Tech Athletics

The second half did not start out well for Georgia Tech. At the 16:16 timeout, Clemson led 44-36 and it looked like they might be ready to start pulling away from Georgia Tech. The Tigers held the lead for much of the second half. 

The next few minutes were as tight as could be. Georgia Tech did get it within one point, but the Tigers got back out in front. 

With 1:43 left in the game, things looked bleak for Damon Stoudamire's team. Clemson led by nine and much like the game against Duke on Saturday, it looked like Georgia Tech was going to come up just short on the road. 

But then, the Yellow Jackets started to make a monster run. 

Three free throws from Kyle Sturdivant cut the lead to six and then after a missed shot from Clemson, Reeves nailed a three with 52 seconds remaining to cut the lead to three. All of the pressure suddenly shifted to the Tigers. 

Clemson's next possession started with a miss, but a rebound and then a foul on Reeves sent Joseph Girard to the line, where he hit a pair of free throws. The lead was back to five for the Tigers. 

After the free throws, George nailed a three with 12 seconds left to cut the lead to two. The Yellow Jackets were going to have to hope the Tigers missed their free throws. 

Georgia Tech fouled Chase Hunter and he hit the first one to make it 71-68. The Tigers could end the game with the next free throw and escape with a win. 

But he missed it, leaving the door open for a miracle. 

The Yellow Jackets got down the court and George hit a three-point shot to tie it up with two seconds. 

ICE IN HIS VEINS 🧊🧊🧊 https://t.co/rBaEqaQCUl pic.twitter.com/1Ned2SR9YB

— Georgia Tech Men’s Basketball (@GTMBB) January 17, 2024

There was free basketball in Clemson. 

The first overtime period felt a lot like regulation. Both teams traded shots and could not quite pull ahead of the other. Georgia Tech led 82-79 with 1:14 left, but it was far from over. 

Clemson hit a shot to cut it to one point and then Georgia Tech turned it over. Ndongo committed a foul and Clemson went to the line with a chance to take the lead and potentially win it. 

After missing the first one, PJ Hall nailed the second one to tie things up at 82. The Yellow Jackets had possession and a chance to win, but a turnover from Miles Kelly led the Tigers to get one last crack at things. They missed the shot and to a second overtime, the game went. 

The story of the second overtime was much of the same. Both teams traded shots back and forth. After a made shot from Hunter, Georgia Tech led by one with under a minute left. 

The freshman that was making big shots all game continued to do so and George nailed a jumper to get the lead up to three points with 53 seconds left. 

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Georgia Tech held a three-point lead with four seconds left after a pair of free throws from Sturdivant, but Clemson would have one more chance. Hall missed the three-point shot and the game was over. Georgia Tech got a big win over Clemson and snapped their five-game losing streak. 

For the game, Georgia Tech shot 50% from the field and 43% from three. George led the Yellow Jackets with 20 points and six assists while shooting 8-13 from the field and 4-7 from three. George is a talented young point guard who hit shot after shot tonight when he was called upon. Sturdivant had 18 points off the bench, Reeves had 15 points, and Kelly had 14. 

Clemson shot 41% from the field and a ghastly 14% from three. The Tigers were 28-39 from the free-throw line. They had chances to seal the game up with some free throws but those misses coupled with poor three-point shooting gave the game to the Yellow Jackets. 

This is a good win for Georgia Tech. Clemson is a potential NCAA Tournament team and the Yellow Jackets beat them on the road. Damon Stoudamire's team has had its fair share of ups and downs, but you can see the talent in these young players and tonight, they played good enough to win. 

Georgia Tech is back at home on Saturday against Virginia. Tip-off will be at 6:00 p.m. 

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