Jaeden Zackery's breakout game propels Clemson past Georgia Tech

Field Level Media|published: Tue 14th January, 23:47 2025

Jan 14, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Clemson Tigers center Viktor Lakhin (0) fouls against Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets forward Duncan Powell (31) during the first half at McCamish Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images

Jaeden Zackery scored a season-high 21 points on Tuesday, helping lead the visiting Clemson Tigers to a 70-59 win over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in Atlanta.

Zackery also had six rebounds and three steals for the Tigers (14-4 6-1 Atlantic Coast Conference), who won their second straight game and fifth in six tries. Ian Schieffelin added 16 points, seven rebounds, six assists and four steals for Clemson. Chase Hunter had 14 points and Viktor Lakhin chipped in 10.

Baye Ndongo led Georgia Tech (8-10, 2-5) with 14 points and 12 rebounds, followed by Naithan George's 13 points and Jaeden Mustaf's 12 off the bench. Javian McCollum collected 11 points and five assists for the Yellow Jackets, who dropped their third straight.

After Hunter's dunk made it 8-0, Georgia Tech finally cracked the scoreboard at the 12:42 mark of the first half, when Duncan Powell's layup ended the Yellow Jackets' 0-for-10 dry spell.

Zackery's first basket put Clemson ahead 10-2 before McCollum's free throws began a 6-0 Yellow Jacket run to trim the deficit to two with 9:56 left in the first half.

At the 7:49 mark, Lakhin's free throws extended Clemson's lead to 19-11, but McCollum's triple jump-started a 7-0 spurt to pull Georgia Tech within one.

Leading 27-21, Clemson pushed its advantage to double digits on Lakhin and Zackery's layups. McCollum scored four points for Georgia Tech before Lakhin's turnaround jumper with two seconds left gave the Tigers a 36-25 halftime lead.

Zackery led all scorers with 12 first-half points, while McCollum paced the Yellow Jackets with 11.

Georgia Tech cut into its deficit as George scored the Yellow Jackets' first five points of the second half to make it 37-30.

Clemson eventually pulled away with an 11-3 run, which Chauncey Wiggins capped with a 3-pointer for a 54-37 lead with 9:10 to go.

Wiggins' dunk gave Clemson a 59-41 edge with 7:38 left, but Georgia Tech answered with a 9-0 run that lasted until Schieffelin's triple at the 2:06 mark gave the Tigers a 62-50 lead.

The Yellow Jackets never drew closer than nine the rest of the way.

--Field Level Media