ATLANTA (AP) - Every time Georgia Tech went to the rim for a layup in the first half, the ball just wouldn’t go through the net.
Coach Josh Pastner told his team to stay calm and keep pushing.
“I’ve been in basketball for something like 25 years and I’ve never seen anything like it,” Pastner said. “I told our guys that it’s got to turn our way. We’re due to make a layup here or there.”
Tadric Jackson scored a career-high 29 points, Ben Lammers and Josh Okogie each had a double-double and Georgia Tech recovered from a horrible start to beat Boston College 65-54 on Saturday night.
The Yellow Jackets (15-10, 6-6 Atlantic Coast Conference) missed 22 of their first 24 shots and had 10 turnovers before Lammers’ turnaround jumper cut the lead to 22-10 late in the first. Lammers and Okogie, the team’s two leading scorers, went a combined 1 for 12 before intermission.
Georgia Tech, which snapped a two-game ACC losing streak, never trailed after Justin Moore’s straightaway 3-pointer made it 34-32 with 12:28 remaining. The Jackets took their first double-digit lead when Jackson hit a pair of free throws 8 minutes later.
“I know we have great guys and we feed off each other’s energy,” Okogie said. “I think we did a great job of helping each other and giving each other energy. In the second half we came up with more confidence and focus and were able to execute.”
Jerome Robinson scored 17 points for Boston College (9-17, 2-11)
Lammers, the ACC’s third-leading rebounder, pulled down a career-high 17 boards and scored 14 points. He’s had a double-double in each of the Jackets’ league wins. Okogie finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
The Eagles’ ACC road record dropped to 0-6 this season and 0-15 since they won at Virginia Tech on March 2, 2015.
“It’s pretty frustrating,” Robinson said. “This one was tough, especially having a 15-point lead in the first half. All we have to do is keep fighting and go on to the next game.”
BIG PICTURE
Boston College: Began the game ranked last in ACC defensive field-goal percentage, but the Eagles had a good matchup against the Jackets, who have the league’s worst offensive field-goal percentage. Boston College did a solid job in the first half of crowding the passing lanes and defending the rim as Georgia Tech kept missing layups, but it wasn’t enough. Jordan Chatman went just 0 for 4 on 3s after hitting 18 of his previous 27 shots beyond the arc. “We played really good defense in the first half, but we had some breakdowns as the game wore on,” Robinson said. “Jackson got hot for them. They attacked the rim in the second half.”
Georgia Tech: Pastner used the same five players throughout the second half - Lammers, Okogie, Moore, Jackson and Josh Heath - until the game’s final minute. Quinton Stephens, the team’s third-leading scorer, played just 5 minutes because of a sprained ankle. Corey Heyward started the game, but was replaced by Moore. … The Jackets’ 15 first-half points were their fewest before intermission since they had 12 in a 57-28 home loss to Virginia two years ago. After the poor start, Georgia Tech hit 22 of its next 35 shots from the field. … Jackson scored 20 points in the second half on 8 for 10 shooting.
UP NEXT
Boston College: Hosts Notre Dame on Tuesday. The Eagles then have five days off before visiting Florida State.
Georgia Tech: The Jackets visit Miami on Wednesday and host Syracuse next Sunday.
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