Yellow Jacked Up
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Georgia Tech Basketball: Yellow Jackets host skidding Eagles in ACC play

By Blake Silvers

Dec 28, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets center Ben Lammers (44) celebrates with fans after their win against the North Carolina A&T Aggies at McCamish Pavilion. Georgia Tech won 59-52. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 28, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets center Ben Lammers (44) celebrates with fans after their win against the North Carolina A&T Aggies at McCamish Pavilion. Georgia Tech won 59-52. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
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Fresh off a tune up game against division II Tusculum, the Yellow Jackets get back to ACC play, hosting currently conference bottom feeder Boston College Saturday.

Georgia Tech (14-10, 5-6 ACC) host a struggling Boston College (9-16, 2-10 ACC) squad on Saturday, and have a chance to get back to an even record in Atlantic Coast Conference play.

The Yellow Jackets have won three of their last five games, and four of their last five at home, while the Eagles have dropped eight straight games coming into Saturday’s game in Atlanta.

Last Time Out:

In a break from an always difficult ACC schedule, the Jackets were able to empty the bench against the Pioneers of Tusculum Tuesday night in a 96-58 win.

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The Jackets were 56.3 percent in field goals, 47.6 percent in free throws, won the turnover battle, and out rebounded the Pioneers.

“We were sharp today. A lot of credit goes to Quinton Stephens, I really put it on him to make sure the guys were ready to play,” Coach Pastner said of Tech’s win over Tusculum. “We were going to have to generate our own energy and play the right way. Quinton had his group, his teammates ready to play. So Quinton deserves a lot of credit on that.”

Know the Opponent:

Boston College has lost eight straight games, and ten of their last eleven. The eagles haven’t won a game since beating NC State way back on January 11.

Georgia Tech leads the series 13-10, historically, and won last year’s matchup 76-71 in Chestnut Hill. The Jackets are 5-2 all-time at home against BC.

The Eagles are averaging over 73 points per game, and allowing over 76. Forward Nik Popovic has a 50.8 percentage on the season.

Players to Watch:

Georgia Tech: G Josh Okogie

Josh Okogie leads his team with 15.4 points per game, and has a field goal percentage near 44 percent on the year. He has a tendency to have big games against big-time competition. It’ll be interesting to see if Okogie can get up for a game against one of the ACC’s worst performing teams. Look for Okogie to get near or surpass his season points average.

Boston College: G Jerome Robinson

Georgia Tech isn’t the only team in the ACC with a freshman sensation. Jerome Robinson is averaging 19.5 points per game, and hitting 44.2 percent of his field goals. He’s getting over 34 minutes a game so far this season, and will need to be at or above those averages for his team to have a chance.

Prediction:

Other than BC simply not wanting continue their skid, there’s really no reason to believe that a confident Georgia Tech squad won’t come out on top Saturday. As they’ve done even in losses, the Eagles will find a way to keep it close, but the Jackets will lead most if not all of the game Saturday, and get back to .500 in ACC play.