North Carolina A&T Aggies at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

McCormick helps Georgia Tech rally past NC A&T 59-52

The Aggies (1-12) have never beaten an ACC team in 29 tries, and lost their 33rd consecutive non-conference road game, yet Georgia Tech led for just 10:36.

If not for the surprising heat from McCormick, a graduate transfer from Western Michigan who'd scored just five points in Tech's first 11 games, the Yellow Jackets (8-4) might be heading into Saturday's ACC opener against No. 9 North Carolina with scorch marks.

They're smarting anyway after missing their first seven shots and 13 of their first 15, only to have to steal the lead late in each half.

"We avoided disasters," said first-year Georgia Tech coach Josh Pastner. "Kellen McCormick saved us tonight, bottom line."

Tech made five of its last eight shots in the first half for a 26-23 lead, but North Carolina A&T junior guard Sam Hunt scored 16 of his game-high 20 points in the second half. Davaris McGowens added 14 points and eight rebounds for the Aggies.

Hunt gave A&T a 30-28 lead on a 3-pointer with 15:10 remaining.

North Carolina A&T wasn't finished.

The Aggies cut that lead to a single point before McCormick's final trey gave the Jackets breathing room with 1:29 to go.

"For 36 minutes, we went toe-to-toe with an ACC program," said North Carolina A&T coach Jay Joyner. "We're a much better team than our record suggests."

BIG PICTURE

North Carolina A&T: Perhaps there are moral victories after all. The Aggies ought to be pleased with the fight they put up against an ACC opponent. They shot just 32 percent (17 of 53), but they matched the bigger Jackets in the paint, 22-22, and outrebounded Tech 35-33.

Georgia Tech: It's probably going to be ugly at the next practice or two for the Jackets, who played much of this game as if they'd never practiced or played together. With 18 ACC games looming, Tech did not look ready to play.

SHORT STAFFED

The Aggies played without junior guard Eliel Gonzalez, their second-leading scorer (10.5 points per game) and leading assist man (32 in 11 games). "He was late the last two days to the bus and practice," Joyner said. "I'm big on discipline, and that's why he didn't play."

WHOLESALE CHANGE

Fed up with his starters, Pastner swapped in subs Josh Heath, Corey Heyward, Sylvester Ogbonda, McCormick and Christian Matthews just 2:51 into the game, with the Jackets trailing 4-0. That didn't help. The starters returned 2:32 later and Tech still trailed 4-0.

POOR SHOWING

Lammers, who finished with 12 points, six rebounds and two blocked shots, said the Jackets brought a poor attitude into the game. "We had some open shots, but we just couldn't make them. We also made some poor plays," he said. "I think we just didn't have the same energy that we usually do."

UP NEXT

North Carolina A&T will move into MEAC action when the Aggies play at Hampton on Jan. 4.

Georgia Tech will dive into the ACC with a brutal start, hosting No. 9 North Carolina on Saturday.

How can I watch North Carolina A&T vs. Georgia Tech?

• TV Channel: North Carolina A&T at Georgia Tech 2021 College Basketball, week 8, is broadcasted on ACCNX.
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