Georgia Tech wants defensive-minded approach vs. Texas Southern

Georgia Tech will look to shore up its defense on Tuesday when it plays the second leg of the Peach State Classic against Texas Southern in Atlanta.

The Yellow Jackets (1-1) allowed North Florida to shoot a sizzling 53.6 percent from the floor en route to a 105-93 setback to the Ospreys on Sunday.

The contest marked the first time Georgia Tech surrendered 100 points in a game since a four-overtime loss to Georgia State, 123-120, in the 2020-21 season opener.

"It's a weird game from the standpoint of we scored the ball, but we just couldn't stop them at all," Yellow Jackets head coach Damon Stoudamire said. "We gotta go back to the drawing board. I'm not disappointed by any means. It's still early. We just got some things we need to address. I'm bent out of shape by losing, I'm mad about losing, but we'll get past this and we gotta get ready for the next game."

Georgia Tech's Luke O'Brien downplayed his 15-point, eight-rebound performance and instead told reporters that he felt his team's defense was "pretty pathetic."

Baye Ndongo recorded his seventh career double-double for the Yellow Jackets, posting team highs in points (20) and rebounds (10) on Sunday.

Javian McCollum followed up his 18-point effort in Georgia Tech's 85-62 victory over West Georgia on Wednesday with 14 more vs. North Florida.

Texas Southern (1-2) also was rather generous in its last game, a 92-64 setback to Georgia on Sunday in a Peach State Classic contest in Athens, Ga.

Kenny Hunter scored 16 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the floor for Texas Southern, and Kavion McClain added 13 while making 6 of 8 shots. However, the rest of the Tigers combined to go 10-for-45 (22.2 percent) from the field.

What's worse, the entire team made just 1 of 19 attempts from 3-point range and was outrebounded by a 53-23 margin.

Despite the Tigers' struggles with their shooting, Georgia Bulldogs coach Mike White was quick to credit their aggressiveness on defense.

"Texas Southern's really physical, very, very handsy, tipped a lot of balls," White said. "They were just super active. Their wallops were really physical, and we drew a lot of contact."

--Field Level Media