13 Georgia Tech basketball games for the ages

Kenny Anderson celebrates the shot that sent the game into overtime in 1990 NCAA Southeast Regional basketball action against Michigan State.

Kenny Anderson celebrates the shot that sent the game into overtime in 1990 NCAA Southeast Regional basketball action against Michigan State.

Like beauty, basketball classics are in the eye of the beholder. But here are a baker’s dozen Georgia Tech wins for the ages, in chronological order:

Georgia Tech 59, Kentucky 58

Jan. 8, 1955

The Yellow Jackets beat a No. 1 team for the first time, breaking Kentucky’s 129-game win streak at home. Joe Helms stole the ball and sank the game-winner with 11 seconds left.

Georgia Tech 65, Kentucky 59

Jan 31, 1955

Just 23 days later, the Jackets did it again. The visiting Wildcats, restored to its No. 1 ranking, never led while Tech guards Helms and Bobby Kimmel scored a combined 44 points.

Georgia Tech 62, Kentucky 60

Jan. 30, 1961

Coach Whack Hyder notched 11 career victories over Kentucky’s Adolph Rupp, but none was sweeter than this one. Playing with a broken thumb, Roger Kaiser dribbled out the last 30 seconds before canning a baseline jumper at the horn.

Georgia Tech 76, St. Bonaventure 71 (2 OT)

March 25, 1971

In the NIT semifinals (when that tournament really mattered), a Rich Yunkus basket forced overtime before Jim Thorne’s basket put Tech ahead to stay with 3:05 remaining in the second overtime. Thorne and Yunkus teamed for 46 points.

Georgia Tech 62, Virginia 61

Feb 9, 1980

They still can’t explain this one in Charlottesville. Facing freshman Ralph Sampson, a Jackets team that would finish 8-18 and win only one conference game nailed its first-ever ACC victory.

Georgia Tech 72, Virginia 71 (3 OT)

Jan. 23, 1984

Bruce Dalrymple’s only field goal of the game gave Tech the lead for good. Tech radio play-by-play man Brad Nessler dubbed Alexander Memorial Coliseum the Thrillerdome that night. It stuck.

Georgia Tech 57, North Carolina 54

March 10, 1985

Tech beat UNC for the third time in six weeks, this one landing the Jackets their first ACC Tournament championship. All of the three wins were by five points or less.

Georgia Tech 81, Michigan State 80

March 23, 1990

Kenny Anderson made a 20-foot shot at the buzzer to tie the score at the end of regulation — OK, it might have been after the buzzer — and Brian Domalik canned another 3-pointer at the horn to force a second OT before the Jackets prevailed in an NCAA Southeast Regional semifinal.

Georgia Tech 112, Georgia 105 (3 OT)

Dec. 19, 1990

Depending on your leanings, this was the state rivalry’s finest night. Kenny Anderson went for 40 points while UGA’s Latterial Green scored 31. Said wistful UGA coach Hugh Durham, “I’d rather be a dumb coach that wins than a coach that learns a lot from losing.”

Georgia Tech 87, Louisville 85

Dec. 19, 1992

For the third time over an 18-game period, James Forrest highlighted the first basketball game at the Georgia Dome with a 3-pointer at the buzzer, sinking a 23-footer from the top of the key.

Georgia Tech 79, Kansas 71 (OT)

March 28, 2004

Sophomore Jarrett Jack willed the Jackets into the Final Four, scoring 12 of his game-high 29 points in the final 11 minutes and adding an assist, a steal and a rebound in the closing segment.

Georgia Tech 71, Duke 65

Jan. 9, 2010

The Jackets hadn’t defeated a top-five team in five years when it took down the No. 5 Blue Devils behind Gani Lawal’s 21 points. Duke went on to win the national championship and Tech hasn’t beaten the Blue Devils since.

Georgia Tech 75, North Carolina 63

Dec. 31, 2016

Happy New Year. A season of surprises delivered its first stunner. Josh Okogie scored 26, and the Jackets led the No. 9 Tar Heels throughout the last 12 minutes, ending a seven-game losing streak to UNC.