With their back against the wall in the first round of the NIT Tournament, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets have played from behind in most of the first half of the team’s first round matchup against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks, and they would head into the locker room down ()
The offense for the Yellow Jackets would face a similar fate that they have throughout the season: a slow start. The Yellow Jackets would make just two field goals in the first five minutes of the game. Defensively, the Yellow Jackets did just enough to stay in the game early, as the Gamecocks would jump out to a 12-5 lead.
Both teams would get the three ball going, with Duncan Powell would make one, followed by Lance Terry making two three pointers in a row.
While the Yellow Jackets started to get the three ball going, they could not get their shots inside to fall, as they had just two points in the paint in the first nine minutes of the contest.
Facing a 25-18 deficit, Yellow Jackets guard Jaeden Mustaf would reel off five straight points to cut the Gamecocks lead to 25-23 with 8:22 left in the half.
Two points scored on a basket from Duncan Powell from earlier in the contest on a questionable goaltending call on the Gamecocks would then be taken off, making the score 25-21.
The Gamecocks would increase their lead by as much as 14 points before halftime. The Gamecocks would head into the locker room up 45-33.
Lance Terry would lead the Yellow Jackets in scoring in the first half with nine points, while Duncan Powell would score eight.