Georgia Tech Rides Defense to 68-50 Win Over Northern Illinois

Georgia Tech is now 3-0 after a big win over Northern Illinois on Thursday

Georgia Tech used a great defensive effort in the first half to propel them to victory on Thursday night against Northern Illinois. A bad start to the second half made things a little closer for a brief moment, but Georgia Tech got back to what this team does best and shut the door on the Huskies to get to 3-0. 

The Yellow Jackets came into this game as a 13-point favorite at Caesars Sportsbook and did wind up covering the spread. The starting five remained the same: Lance Terry, Kyle Sturdivant, Deebo Coleman, Deivon Smith, and Rodney Howard. The four guys that came off the bench were Miles Kelly, Jalon Moore Tristan Maxwell, and Ja'von Franklin. 

Georgia Tech is now 3-0 after a win over Northern Illinois / Georgia Tech Athletics

In the first few minutes of the game, Georgia Tech got out to a 7-0 lead thanks to baskets by Coleman, Howard, and Smith. Northern Illinois and Tech would trade baskets and the Yellow Jackets led 15-8 and then the big run in the first half came. 

Georgia Tech broke the game open with a 15-0 run to get the lead to 30-8. Kelly and Sturdivant combined for 10 points during the run and Georgia Tech was in total control of the game. 

The score at the end of the first half was 43-20. 

At the end of the first half, Georgia Tech's defense had held NIU to 20% shooting from the floor and 15.4% from three-point range. Tech had entered the game as one of the top teams in the country in three-point defense and they did a great job containing the Huskies in the first half. 

It was a solid first half from the floor from Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets shot 46.3% from the floor and 33.3% from the three-point range. 

As great as the first half was, Northern Illinois came out strong in the second half. Georgia Tech could not buy a basket and the Huskies got out to a 17-1 run to start the second half. Georgia Tech did not make a bucket until Smith scored with 11:45 left in the game. 

Deebo Coleman scored 12 points in Georgia Tech's win on Thursday / Georgia Tech Athletics

After leading by as much as 26 points in the first half, Northern Illinois got the game to single digits, 44-37. However, that was as close as the game would get, and the Yellow Jackets' defense regained its first-half form. 

Georgia Tech kept Norther Illinois at arm's length the rest of the game and won 68-50. 

For the game, Georgia Tech held Northern Illinois to 26.9% and 20.8%. The Yellow Jackets shot 39.1% and 27.8% from three. 

Georgia Tech narrowly won the rebound battle 48-47. One area that Northern Illinois lost was the free throw battle and that benefitted Georgia Tech. NIU shot 9-21 from the line and when Tech faces a better team, they may not have such an advantage. 

Franklin led the way for Georiga Tech tonight with a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double. Kelly had 13 points, Coleman had 12, and Smith finished with 11 points. Smith finished one rebound away from having a double-double of his own. 

The last time Tech held an opponent under 30 percent from the floor was Dec. 21 of last season against Georgia State (28.2 pct.). The last time an opponent shot a lower percentage than NIU’s 26.9 was Elon (21.6 pct.) on Nov. 11, 2019.

Kelly reached double figures for the sixth time in his career and in his fifth straight game dating back to last season’s regular-season finale against Boston College. He has averaged 14.6 points over his last five games.

This is the first time under Pastner that Georgia Tech has started 3-0 and the first time since 2015-2016.

Georgia Tech is going to be back in action on Monday night against Utah as part of the Fort Myers Tip-Off Classic. The game will tip off at 6:00 p.m. and be broadcast on Fox Sports 1. 

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