Despite losing to the Yellow Jackets 69-67, Tennessee won the battle on the boards, out-rebounding a much more physical Georgia Tech team 53-47. Against the Yellow Jackets that spark was Detrick Mostella. Punter, who missed a chunk of the second half due to cramps, missed two free throws with 1:19 to go that would have tied the game, and Robert Hubbs (13 points) had a shot in the lane blocked.
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The Yellow Jackets led for most of the first half, their biggest lead at five points on five different occasions, lastly at 1:29 on a layup by Charles Mitchell. Marcus Georges-Hunt also contributed 17 points and 7 rebounds, while Josh Heath had 0 points but added 5 assists and 2 rebounds.
Charles Mitchell: The forward posted his second straight double-double. The senior from Marietta had 12 points and 12 rebounds after getting 21 points and 11 rebounds in the opener against Cornell. Georgia Tech was actually only up two points in the beginning of the second half before they went on a 32-3 run. But the Yellow Jackets roared back with their own 10-0 run and took a 58-55 lead when Jacobs scored inside.
Georgia Tech led 40-38 at halftime thanks to Jacobs. Transfer James White also had 11 rebounds. The 6-foot-6 forward from Jonesboro, who played at Arkansas-Little Rock, showed a few exceptional defense. So it may go until the Vols get other options and/or interior options, though Jabari McGhee was strong off the bench with 10 points and 4 rebounds if we’re still considering him an interior option. They combined for no points Monday, going a combined 0-for-4 from the field and 0-for-3 from the line. It was certainly the sort of game it might have lost on its final possession a year ago. “They’re starting to do a few things and understand their role”. The first subs were point guard Travis Jorgenson and forwards Quinton Stephens and Ben Lammers at 16:02. Tennessee leads the all-time collection 42-27.
Tonight will be the 70th meeting between the schools and the first in Atlanta since 2002.
Tennessee will return to Thompson-Boling arena on Thursday to host Marshall at 7 p.m.
Coach Brian Gregory: “In the big picture that’s a great win for us”. The Vols won’t win many games shooting the ball like that. And if we buy into the idea that this is a team that will get better under Rick Barnes, they can continue to be there at the end.
“The last play”, Barnes said, “we wanted to take the ball to the basket and we didn’t do it”. “The defensive coverage on the last play was flawless”. I just did whatever my instincts told me, and that was to throw it back to (Baulkman) for the shot.
“I definitely think it’s something we’ve got to work on – maintaining a lead and knowing when to be aggressive, when not to overdo it”, he said.
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“We just didn’t have the discipline to do what we were trying to get done as a team”.
