Georgia Tech sneaks past Miami

Tech (15-14 overall, 9-9 ACC) continued its late-season charge, winning its fourth game in the past five, though three of the four opponents have a combined league record of 21-33. Pastner’s pleas earlier in the season that the team was better than its record continue to gain credence. At 9-9 in the ACC, with two games remaining, Tech is now in a five-way tie for fifth place. The Jackets’ ACC finishes since the league expanded to 15 teams in the 2013-14 season – T11, T13, 11, 11, 13, 10. The best record (achieved twice) in that span was 8-10. Tech hasn’t finished at .500 in league play since the 2006-07 season.

“Really satisfying,” guard Jose Alvarado said. “I’ve been here three years – most wins I’ve got since I’ve been here.”

The win over Miami (14-14, 6-12) was a big step toward securing a pass out of the first round of the ACC tournament, which begins March 10 in Greensboro, N.C. It has been a team goal since the end of last season to finish in ninth place or better and thereby avoid the first round. That has been Tech’s lot in each of Pastner’s first three seasons, each season losing in that opening round.

Tech does not appear to have clinched a spot in the top nine yet, but a win either Wednesday at home against Pittsburgh or at Clemson on Friday would take care of it.

“We have gotten better,” Pastner said.

Saturday night, before an announced crowd of 6,681, the Jackets were sharper and more energetic through the first 20 minutes, winning loose balls, jumping in passing lanes and taking advantage of a Miami team not ready to play. Fed up, Hurricanes coach Jim Larranaga called timeout at 2:20 after Tech guard Michael Devoe poked the ball away from forward Keith Stone, creating an open-court layup for a 35-20 lead. It was Tech’s fifth steal of the half and Miami’s ninth turnover.

After the earful from Larranaga, the Hurricanes came out of the timeout and had the ball stolen from them near midcourt on the next two possessions, as well, to extend the lead to 38-20.

“I thought our effort in the first half was very disappointing,” Larranaga said.

After halftime, when Tech pushed the advantage to 49-29 on a Devoe 3-pointer with 15:53 remaining, it appeared the Jackets were in the clear. In recent games against Louisville, Wake Forest, Syracuse and Clemson, Tech eased up in the second half after taking halftime leads. In all but the Syracuse game, the Jackets managed to gather themselves quickly enough to still win.

The Jackets were perhaps learning from experience. Then, however, Miami started pouring in shots while Tech went cold. The Jackets were 1-for-11 with four turnovers (six of the misses were in the paint) during the Hurricanes’ 24-2 run, finished off with a Chris Lykes’ 3-pointer at the 7:37 mark. Pastner acknowledged that defensive intensity had dipped.

“I think the next step for us, we’ve got to be able to handle success,” Pastner said.

After Pastner called timeout, the Jackets showed ferocity in trying to win every loose ball. On the possession after the timeout, Tech tied the game at 53 with a two-point possession that lasted a minute and 10 seconds as the Jackets twice went to the free-throw line and both times missed the second free throw but were able to maintain possession (once when the ball went out of bounds off a Miami player, once when forward Moses Wright made a hustle play to save the ball from going out of bounds) and also rebounded two missed field-goal attempts.

Tech finished the game with 18 offensive rebounds out of 39 available rebounds, a healthy 46.2%. It was a season high for offensive rebounding percentage and the second highest total for offensive rebounds. Miami is 14th in the league in defensive rebounding percentage in league games.

“Especially towards the end, it was just fighting,” Banks said. “We were clawing, we were scratching, we were doing everything we can to get wins and to stay alive in this competitive league.”

The play at the other end was equally frenzied. After a Wright lay-in off a lob from guard Bubba Parham lifted Tech’s lead to 60-57 with 2:24 left, Banks helped deliver defensive stops on consecutive possessions with a help-defense steal and then a blocked shot. Tech closed the game with six consecutive defensive stops.

“We didn’t want to play Tuesday (in the first round),” Alvarado said. “We keep on saying that. We did not want to play Tuesday.”

For the game, Miami shot 36.7% from the field (22-for-60) and 11.8% (2-for-17) from 3-point range. Over the past five home ACC games – all wins – Tech has not allowed its opponent past 59 points and has limited those five teams to 31.8% shooting from the field and 14.7% accuracy from 3-point range. After Saturday’s game, the Jackets are 21st in Division I in adjusted defensive efficiency (KenPom).

Banks finished with 13 points and 14 rebounds, half on the offensive end. Alvarado led with 16 and four rebounds, while Devoe scored 14 with six rebounds. They also combined for 10 of Tech’s 18 turnovers, a continuing flaw even as the Jackets win.

On a night when Tech did more than enough to lose, it did more to win.

“It’s a sign that we want to win,” Alvarado said. “We’re tired of losing.”