THE FLATS – Miles Kelly led Georgia Tech with 20 points and was one of two Yellow Jackets in double figures as the Yellow Jackets’ men’s basketball team dropped a 74-56 decision to No. 13/12 Virginia on Saturday in McCamish Pavilion.
Georgia Tech (7-6, 0-3 ACC) kept a close hold on Virginia (10-2, 2-1 ACC) in the first half, trailing just 27-25 after a pair of free throws from Jason Moore with 2:58 remaining. But an eight-minute, 36-second scoring drought by Tech extending more than five minutes into the second half allowed Virginia to score 25 unanswered points through the 14:41 mark, gaining a 52-25 lead. Despite holding Virginia to two made three-pointers in the second half after the Cavaliers hit eight in the first half, Georgia Tech could not mount a comeback.
Virginia maintained a commanding lead in the second half as Tech was plagued by turnovers, committing 23 miscues in the game that were converted into 30 Cavalier points. The Cavaliers finished at a 47.4 percent shooting clip, including a 45.5 percent effort from three-point distance.
Kelly and Ja’von Franklin (11) led the Yellow Jackets offensively, while Kyle Sturdivant finished with eight assists to mark a career-high (prev: 7 vs. Alabama State, 12/17/22).
Kihei Clark (15), Jayden Gardner (14), Armaan Franklin (11) and Kadin Shedrick (11) led Virginia in the scoring column. The Cavaliers narrowly won the rebounding battle, 31-30, and dished out 21 assists on the day.
Georgia Tech returns to action on Wednesday, Jan. 4, hosting no. 14 Miami at McCamish Pavilion. Tip is slated for 7 pm on RSN.
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