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Georgia Tech Basketball: Jackets Let Lead Slip Away Against Syracuse

By Dylan Callaghan-Croley

CHAPEL HILL, NC - JANUARY 20: Head coach Josh Pastner of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets reacts against the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game at Dean Smith Center on January 20, 2018 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC - JANUARY 20: Head coach Josh Pastner of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets reacts against the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game at Dean Smith Center on January 20, 2018 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets couldn’t hold onto a lead against the Syracuse Orange on Saturday in a 79-72 loss.

Despite at one-point holding an 11-point lead on Saturday afternoon, Josh Pastner’s Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets couldn’t pick up a highly crucial late season victory against the Syracuse Orange. The Jackets fell victim to committing a plethora of fouls and turnovers.

The Yellow Jackets (13-14, 7-9) fell to the Orange on Saturday afternoon 79-72 after the Orange scored 28-points in the final nine minutes of the contest. The Orange’s 28-points in those final nine minutes of play was just part of a 52-point second half that allowed Syracuse to overcome the Jackets 11-point, 38-27 halftime lead.

The 52-points the Jackets allowed in the second half of the game against the Orange is the most they’ve allowed this season. The Jackets allowed their previous high of 49-points this past Wednesday in an 86-79 victory.

Moses Wright had a spectacular game on Saturday against Syracuse, leading all scorers with 33-points and was extremely efficient. He shot 14-for-17 from the field for the game while going 5-for-8 at the free throw line. He also brought down 10-rebounds in the game, to earn his seventh double-double of the 2019-2020 season.

Unfortunately for Georgia Tech, the only other team to hit double-digits was Michael Devoe who scored 11-points. Starters Jose Alvarado and James Banks III both finished with eight points while Jordan Usher finished with five. That being said, the Jackets finished with a team field goal percentage of 46.2% and 40.0% from beyond the arch (6-for-15).

Syracuse, on the other hand, had four starters with double-digit points while shooting 45.1% from the floor. Fouls played a huge hand Syracuse’s victory as the Yellow Jackets committed 26 personal fouls and sent the Orange to the line for 36 free-throws. Syracuse would take advantage of the free throws quite a bit, hitting 28-of-36 attempts.

Personal fouls were not the only place that the Yellow Jackets got in trouble as they also fell victim to themselves by committing 16 turnovers in the game including 14 from their starters.

The Yellow Jackets will look to rebound from the tough loss on Tuesday against the Clemson Tigers. The Tigers are currently 13-12 on the season and 7-8 in conference play. Tip-off is set for 9:00 p.m. at McCamish Pavillion. Tech fans can watch the game via ACC Network Extra or by listening to the game via WRECK 91.1 FM.