Yellow Jacked Up
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Georgia Tech Basketball: Jackets win over NC State shows progress

By Dylan Callaghan-Croley

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 9: Jose Alvarado #10 of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets reacts to a call during the game against the Virginia Tech Hokies at McCamish Pivilion on January 9, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 9: Jose Alvarado #10 of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets reacts to a call during the game against the Virginia Tech Hokies at McCamish Pivilion on January 9, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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It was a tumultuous regular season, to say the least but the Georgia Tech men’s basketball team ended their regular season on Wednesday on a high note showing progress in the process.

Georgia Tech didn’t have the regular season they hoped for but the Yellow Jackets found a way to finish their regular season off in the win column on Wednesday night against NC State.

The Jackets won the thriller 63-61 thanks to a James Banks game-winning dunk in the final seconds. But it was a whirlwind leading up to that and seemed to replicate the Jackets season as a whole.

For the Jackets, it wasn’t easy on Wednesday, despite shooting well above NC State’s 31.9%, the Yellow Jackets still found themselves trailing in the final seconds before Alvarado’s strong push up the court and great pass to James Banks for the game-winning dunk. For the most part, it felt like many of the Jackets 12 conference losses on the season. There were positives in each game but in the end, the Jackets inabilities to convert on easy baskets, free throws, or costly turnovers ultimately ended up killing them in the end.

On Wednesday night, the same thing could’ve been said about the Jackets. At the free throw line, they struggled, hitting just 12-of-20 attempts while also turning the ball over 16 times, double the amount in which they forced. The Jackets also got very little out of their bench in a combined 10 minutes of play, as they got three rebounds, one assist, and two points out of the trio of Abdoulaye Gueye, Branon Alston, and Kristian Sjolund.

Thankfully for the Yellow Jackets, James Bank and Moses Wright were able to lead them to victory, with 19 and 18 points respectively. Jose Alvarado also contributed 11 points in the winning effort.

That being said, the Yellow Jackets found a way to pull out the win, something that a couple of weeks ago they may not have been able to do. It’s a sign that the team has grown despite the tough season and perhaps gives the fanbase some hope that year four of the Josh Pastner era will resemble something closer to year one rather than years two and three. That being said, year three for Pastner isn’t done just.

For the Jackets, it ends their regular season on a two-game winning streak after winning their home finale on Sunday night against Boston College. Next up for the Jackets will be the beginning of the ACC Tournament that is set to begin next Tuesday. With a 14-17 record, the Jackets are currently sitting on the 10th seed. That would line them up with a game against Pittsburgh next Tuesday at 2:30 pm.