Yellow Jacked Up
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Georgia Tech Basketball: Thoughts on Jackets huge win over NC State

By Bronston Tankersley

DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 26: Head coach Josh Pastner of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets reacts during their game against the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium on January 26, 2019 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 26: Head coach Josh Pastner of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets reacts during their game against the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium on January 26, 2019 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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Tuesday night, the Yellow Jackets tipped-off their 2019-20 regular season against in-conference foe NC State in Raleigh. The Jackets won the game pulling out a clutch 82-81 overtime victory.

My initial takeaway is simple, wow. Eight months dormant of college basketball and we were in for a treat Tuesday night. The Yellow Jackets walked into PNC Arena and snatched victory from the jaws of in-conference foe NC State. The Jackets were down by 15 at one point in this game, yet a strong second half, and a great performance in overtime, led the Jackets to victory.

Two Yellow Jackets stood out in their 2019 debut, Michael Devoe and James Banks III. Devoe and Banks both came into the season with high expectations from the fans and their team, and they did not disappoint. Devoe scored a team-high 22 points, adding in 4 assists and 2 rebounds. Banks chipped in an additional 20 points with 3 assists and 14 rebounds, treating himself to a double-double.

Not to mention, the entire starting 5 for the Yellow Jackets entered double figures. Additionally, returning leading scorer Jose Alvarado added 10 points with 6 assists; Khalid Moore added 11 points, and Moses Wright added 12 points with 6 rebounds. The entire game was very well balanced and well coached coming down to a very sweet victory for the Jackets to enter into the regular season with.

The game ultimately came down into the last 3 minutes of regulation when the Devoe hit a big 3 late to tie the game 73-all. NC state would hit 2 free throws and Banks would make a dunk before heading into OT, 75-all.

The Jackets opened overtime with a huge 3-pointer from Asanti Price, the true freshman, putting the Jackets up 78-75 early. NC State would ultimately take advantage deep into overtime when star C. J. Bryce hit two clutch free throws down 79-80 to put the Wolfpack up 81-80 with 35 seconds left in the game. Alvarado lost the ball, then got it back, before finding Devoe in the corner for a 3. Though he missed the 3, Banks came down with the offensive board and was fouled with 2 seconds remaining. The senior came up big hitting both free throws to put the Yellow Jackets up 82-81 and the Wolfpack’s last heave was no good, sending the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets home with a victory.

Georgia Tech will travel back home to play Elon on November 11th for their home opener. The Jackets hope to improve to 2-0 before traveling to bitter in-state rival Georgia on the 20th.