Jackets win Battle of the Techs in a Thriller

Georgia Tech outlasted Virginia Tech 77-70 on Wednesday Night

Matthew Kistner | Feb 15, 2023

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Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Josh Pastner must have felt his seat getting hotter because he brought his team to play on Wednesday night. Georgia Tech tipped off against the Virginia Tech Hokies in a matchup where the Jackets were nine point underdogs, but they played as though this was supposed to be a win for them. Behind Deebo Coleman’s 21 points, the Yellow Jackets emerged victorious for their second win in three games.

The game began with Georgia Tech winning the tip-off and an instant trading of blows as Kyle Sturdivant hit a big three to get a huge night from beyond the arch started. The team continued to cash in three point baskets as Miles Kelly added his own to push the score to 8-7 in favor of the Yellow Jackets. Sturdivant then did it again, hitting his second three point basket and making the game 11-7. The crowd was a bit gobsmacked as Georgia Tech was not usually hitting baskets like this and the team was playing lights out. However, VT hit a quick 6-0 run to go up 13-11, but Tech adequately responded with their own 5-0 run to go up 16-13.

Georgia Tech Basketball — Georgia Tech emerged victorious against Virginia Tech on Wednesday Night / Georgia Tech Athletics

The defense had been stout for the Jackets as they were making big blocks, forcing turnovers, and thus causing Virginia Tech to have to take the tougher shots. The Jackets maintained a steady three point lead until pulling away with a Deebo Coleman three point basket to push the game to 23-17. The Jackets maintained this six point lead behind Miles Kelly and company making big baskets. Georgia Tech never looked back from here as they pushed the game to a ten point lead, going up 33-23. The Jackets continued to play stout defense and pushed themselves to a 41-31 half time lead.

This team was looking like a team that had formerly beat 12th ranked Miami and it was good to see the Jackets show fight again, especially in a rivalry game. Coming out of the locker room, Tech picked up where they left off as Coleman knocked down another three point basket which sparked a fiery run to put the Jackets up by 16 points, which would be the largest lead of the night, at 52-36. Virginia Tech then made a 13-2 run that gave the folks in maroon something to cheer about, cutting the game to 54-49. However, Lance Terry got in on the action, silencing the Hokie fans with a big three pointer to then put the Jackets up 57-49. Tech re-established their 10 point lead and maintained it behind some VT attempts at a surge back.

The Georgia Tech defensive play began to fall apart down the stretch, but the Jackets were holding on to their lead behind strategic offensive play that was getting them to the foul line. However, the Jackets were not making their free throws and it was beginning to allow VT to creep back. However Tech surged late and behind a Lance Terry layup, the Jackets went up 70-59 with under two and a half minutes to go.

Deebo Coleman led the team with 21 points against Virginia Tech / Georgia Tech Athletics

Georgia Tech was trying their best to lose as they allowed Virginia Tech to creep back late, but thankfully the Jackets had created enough of a cushion early on as Georgia Tech went on to take the game 77-70 for their third ACC win of the season. The Jackets are now on a two game winning streak at home and have won two of their last three, reaching the ten win mark. The momentum of the team has shifted and this win is definitely enough to allow Pastner to keep his job another year.

Deebo Coleman led the team with 21 points and 5 rebounds. Ja’von Franklin recorded a double-double with 10 rebounds and 10 points as well as recorded 5 blocks. Franklin had the best looking game by far as he was all over the court the whole game. Miles Kelly had 15 points with 6 rebounds and Lance Terry had 14 points.

This win could do major things for the team and hopefully it has shifted the momentum as the Jackets host Florida Tech this Saturday in McCamish.

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