Georgia Tech ends 4-game losing skid at Virginia Tech's expense

Field Level Media|published: Wed 22nd January, 21:32 2025

Jan 22, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets forward Baye Ndongo (11) is defended by Virginia Tech Hokies forward Ben Burnham (13) in the first half at McCamish Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Duncan Powell scored a season-high 23 points, helping lead Georgia Tech to a 71-64 win over visiting Virginia Tech in Atlantic Coast Conference play on Wednesday in Atlanta.

Javian McCollum added 16 points and Baye Ndongo collected 14 points, nine rebounds and five steals, as the Yellow Jackets (9-11, 3-6 ACC) snapped a four-game losing streak. Naithan George chipped in 11 points and seven assists.

Tyler Johnson led the Hokies (8-11, 3-5) with 14 points, while Tobi Lawal added 13 points and six rebounds. Rodney Brown Jr. scored 10 points off the bench for Virginia Tech, which dropped its second in a row.

After the Hokies trailed 39-35 at halftime, Johnson's layup stamped Virginia Tech's 7-2 run to open the second half.

The teams were tied at 47, then Ndongo's layup followed by George's free throws and McCollum's basket pushed the Yellow Jackets' advantage to 53-47 with 11:41 remaining. After Johnson scored four points in a row, McCollum's free throws jump-started a 6-0 Georgia Tech spurt, giving the Yellow Jackets a 59-51 lead at the 8:02 mark.

From there, Lawal made two 3-pointers and Jaden Schutt knocked down a triple, cutting the Hokies' deficit to 61-60 with 4:38 remaining. George's 3-pointer was followed by Brandon Rechsteiner's midrange jumper, pulling Virginia Tech within two with 2:23 left.

Georgia Tech then finished the game on a 7-2 run, holding Virginia Tech scoreless until Ben Hammond's layup with 5 seconds left.

Georgia Tech connected on its first three 3-pointers as Powell's pair of triples followed McCollum's, giving the Yellow Jackets an early 9-2 lead.

Rechsteiner's 3-pointer cut Virginia Tech's deficit to 17-15 before Georgia Tech answered with George's triple, Ndongo's layup and Powell's two free throws to push its lead to 24-15.

Jaydon Young's 3-pointer then began an 11-2 Hokies' run -- including Brown's eight points -- tying the score at 26 with 7:59 left in the first half.

After Lawal's dunk put the Hokies ahead 31-29, Powell's triple started a 10-4 Yellow Jackets' run to finish the first half, giving Georgia Tech a 39-35 halftime lead. Powell led all scorers with 16 first-half points.

--Field Level Media