Georgia Tech Basketball: Late Game Execution Cost Yellow Jackets in Loss to VA Tech

The Yellow Jackets let off the gas pedal to soon and allowed the Virginia Tech Hokies (10-14, 2-9 ACC) to steal the game away from them by a score of 65-63.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets /

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

This loss is going to be hard to accept on so many levels for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (11-13, 2-10 ACC) and Brian Gregory.

The Yellow Jackets had a 58-48 lead with 5:08 left in the game.

True, 5:08 is enough time for a team to get back in the game, but letting off the gas pedal like the Jackets did is not going to help their cause.

Tech seemed to be trying to melt clock a tad bit early, which resulted in Marcus Georges-Hunt throwing a telegraphed pass into the block that got stolen.

That play snowballed into a 17-5 Virginia Tech run in the final 5:00 minutes that stole the game away from the Yellow Jackets.

What was wickedly obvious coming down the stretch was how Va Tech coach Buzz Williams team looked to be prepared coming out of timeouts and executed. Whereas all Georgia Tech seemed to have coming out of their timeouts late was that same Marcus Georges-Hunt dribble drive that Tech always goes with late in games.

It is understood that you want to get a high percentage shot. But to come out of timeouts and not have anything off of motion to get a bucket at anytime this season in that situation is starting to get old.

The Jackets shot 37.7% from the floor but outrebounded the Hokies 39-27 on the glass including owning an offensive rebounding edge 19-5.

The Hokies hit 52.1% from the field for the game and 5 of 12 from three-point land.

Charles Mitchell played big down low finishing with 17 points and eight rebounds on the evening.

Feb 9, 2015; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies guard Ahmed Hill (13) defends the shot attempt by Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets guard Chris Bolden (2) in the first half at Cassell Coliseum. Virginia Tech defeated Georgia Tech 65-63. Mandatory Credit: Michael Shroyer-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Bolden finished with 10 points and a baseline highlight dunk that at the time was a momentum swinger.

Marcus Georges-Hunt had 11 points and five rebounds, and Tadric Jackson finished with 10 points and three rebounds off the bench.

The Hokies had three players in double-figures for the game led by Malik Muller who finished with 17 points and four assists.

His three-pointer with 18 seconds left ended up being the nail in the Yellow Jackets coffin.

Adam Smith added 15 points and four rebounds, and Shane Henry dropped 10 points on the stat sheet for Virginia Tech.