Georgia Tech freshman Naithan George scored with :07 left and the Yellow Jackets acquired a cease on the following finish to upset No. 3 North Carolina 74-73 Tuesday at house. UNC got here into the week because the final Massive Six program that had but to lose a recreation in convention play.
Georgia Tech (10-11, 3-7 ACC) got here into this recreation having misplaced eight of its final 9 video games earlier than knocking off its second top-10 opponent of the season. The Yellow Jackets beat Duke on Dec. 2 in an ACC opener for each groups.
George was one among three Georgia Tech gamers to complete the sport in double-figures. Kyle Sturdivant scored a team-high 18 factors off the bench, whereas George (16) and Miles Kelly (15) each contributed to the win.
North Carolina (17-4, 9-1) had an opportunity to win the sport on the horn, however RJ Davis’ floater missed. The Tar Heels’ star completed the sport with 28 factors, which marked his seventh 25+ level outing of the season.
The Tar Heels have been using a 10-game successful streak forward of their matchup in opposition to Georgia Tech. UNC is ready to face rival No. 7 Duke on Saturday.
Georgia Tech’s complicated season
Yr 1 of the Damon Stoudamire continues to go up and down. The Yellow Jackets have top-10 wins over Duke and North Carolina, a street win in opposition to Clemson and nonconference wins over Mississippi State and Penn State. Exterior of that, Georgia Tech’s season hasn’t been nice.
After Georgia Tech upset Duke, it misplaced seven of the following eight convention video games earlier than recording one of many extra spectacular wins of the season at house. The lows are very low and the highs are very excessive for this workforce. North Carolina was one of many hottest groups within the nation and this could positively be some momentum to construct off going ahead.
Looking forward to North Carolina-Duke
This weekend is shaping as much as be probably the most anticipated of the common season. The matchup between North Carolina and Duke is one among 4 top-10 video games on the weekend slate and with North Carolina shedding on Tuesday, the stakes will now be even increased. The Blue Devils are 1.5 video games out of first place within the ACC and so they could make issues actually fascinating with a win at house. If Duke wins on Saturday, it will create much more drama atop the ACC and make it a two-horse race – like many earlier than the season anticipated – for the convention title.
Not solely may Saturday dictate the potential ACC title race, but additionally the ACC Participant of the Yr distinction. UNC’s RJ Davis continues to play like an All-American for the Tar Heels and Duke’s Kyle Filipowski is correct there with him. This weekend is not going to finally resolve each, however it may be used as a possible measuring stick.
