Georgia Tech triumphs in triple-overtime classic at Clemson

“We came in here and just fought. And fought and fought,” Tech point guard Nait George said. “No one gave up. That’s why I’m proud of the guys and I’m proud of this win.”

George had a career-high 28 points to go along with seven assists and five rebounds. He also turned the ball over eight times, but that was perhaps a consequence of playing a game-high 55 minutes more than anything.

The sophomore’s play in the first half kept Tech in it, then forward Duncan Powell came to life in the second half. Powell had 19 points, none bigger than then a putback of his own missed 3 at the end of the regulation to send the game to overtime.

Baye Ndongo had a double-double of 18 points and 13 boards, and the sophomore center made some crucial plays the longer the game went into the night. Ibrahim Souare, a reserve forward who likely wouldn’t have seen much of the court at all this season if not for Tech’s injury issues, had 12 rebounds and nine points.

“Man, what a game. I’m just happy and proud of our team,” Stoudamire said. “They were really resilient. Did everything that we needed to do. Each guy that played contributed in their own way.”

Tech (11-12, 5-7 ACC) had trailed by as many as six with 2:39 to play in regulation but refused to go quietly into the night. Powell’s 3, while he was falling down, from the left corner with 39 seconds to play made it a 64-62 game. The Jackets decided not to foul to extend the game on the defensive end and the strategy worked as Dillon Hunter missed a right-corner 3 with less than 10 seconds remaining.

The Jackets raced the ball up the other end where Powell threw up a desperation 3. It was way off the mark, but Powell followed his shot and threw in a layup as the buzzer sounded to force overtime.

Neither squad could take control in the first overtime and neither team led by more than two in that period. Chase Hunter’s long 3 from the top of the key at buzzer was no good sending the game into a second overtime.

Chase Hunter also missed a 3 at the buzzer of the second overtime after the teams had found their way to a 77-77 tie. In what turned out to be the final five minutes of the contest, Tech took an 80-77 advantage 69 seconds into the period and never gave up the lead.

Ndongo scored the final six points of the night, sinking two free throws with three seconds on the clock to provide the final margin. Chase Hunter missed another 3 that would have tied it again.

“This is a big-time win. To come in here and get a win against a team like this, (Clemson) is a tournament team,” Stoudamire said. “It’s gratifying from the standpoint that these kids can see that if they got belief and they play hard each and every time, they can beat anyone. That’s what makes me so proud. I know what it feels like when you have success. That’s the thing, to see those guys happy and cheering for each other and jumping up and down in the locker room, but yet not satisfied, that makes me happy.”

Lance Terry added 12 in the win for the Jackets who won in Littlejohn in double overtime in 2024. Tech has won back-to-back games, over teams with 34 combined wins, for its first winning streak since Dec. 28-Jan. 4 when it won three in a row.

The Jackets are at Virginia (11-12, 4-8) at 5:30 p.m. Saturday.

“We can compete with everybody and anybody in the country,” George said. “That’s what I believe in and we all believe that. We just gotta keep pushing forward, getting better.”

Clemson (18-4, 10-1) came out of the gates firing, taking 22 shots in the first 10 minutes. Five of the seven shots the Tigers made were from distance, allowing them to take a 19-14 lead at the 11:39 mark.

Tech played intentional and methodical in its counterattack and let George work his midrange jumper on the offensive end. He made six of his first nine shots and had 13 points midway through the opening period to get the Jackets within 19-18.

Clemson scored seven straight in 73 seconds to go up 26-21 and force Stoudamire to call timeout at the 8:03 mark. Tech came right back with a 10-1 spurt and had a 31-27 advantage after George hit his second triple of the game. The Tigers then closed the half with a 7-2 run to escape the first 20 minutes with a 34-33 lead.

The Jackets were exceptionally efficient on the offensive end by making 50% of their shots, but seven Tech turnovers and nine offensive rebounds by Clemson hindered the visitors’ ability to control the game.

Tech slipped down five early in the second half but responded with a 8-2 run capped by Powell’s strong layup at the 14:25 mark. Back-to-back Chase Hunter triples gave the Tigers the lead back at 46-43 and forced a gassed Tech team to signal timeout with 10:17 to go.

Back and forth the two sides went before 3s from Ian Schieffelin and Jake Heidbreder, respectively, gave the Tigers a 58-53 advantage (the 18th lead change at that point) as the clock ticked down to less than five minutes to play.

Tech had been 3-29 under Stoudamire, and 0-11 this season, when trailing with five minutes left in regulation.

“What I’m proud of is I think we took their best hit,” Stoudamire added. “I’ve been telling anybody that’ll listen, injuries aside, we got five or six players, seven players, I feel like we can play with anybody. I really do. And I’ve been saying it, but I needed these guys to believe in that and I think tonight’s win shows that they do.”