Yellow Jackets blow past Tennessee Tech

ATLANTA -- Despite leading the offense, Georgia Tech's Jeremis Smith and Gani Lawal agreed with coach Paul Hewitt that defense was the difference, especially in the first half.

Smith matched a season-high with 16 points and Gani added 13 points and eight rebounds as the Yellow Jackets routed Tennessee Tech 83-63 Thursday night.

It was the second consecutive blowout for Georgia Tech (6-5), who beat Centenary 86-41 on Sunday night.

``I thought that in the first half we played about as well as we could defensively,'' said Hewitt. ``Jeremis Smith was very active. Jeremis carried out the defensive instructions well tonight and on his own he made some plays for us.''

Hewitt said Smith's statistics won't show it (only two rebounds, both offensive), but Tennessee Tech's two big men average about eight offensive rebounds a game and Smith held them (Amadi McKenzie (3) and Daniel Northern (1) to four.

Smith scored 12 of his points in the first half on 5-of-6 shooting and finished 7-of-10.

``I think six were dunks,'' said Smith, who credited the smothering defense with most of them, especially in the opening period when Georgia Tech forced 16 turnovers.

``We were getting in the passing lanes and anticipating real well,'' said Smith. ``That's exciting basketball, the way I like to play.''

Lawal scored 10 of his points in the second half and hit 5-of-6 shots overall, including seven of the Yellow Jackets' first nine points in the second half.

``It was just being in the right spot at the right time,'' he said. ``Our defense in the first half was getting in the right rotation and our intensity was good. It represented where we want to be defensively.''

Georgia Tech's Lewis Clinch added 11 points and Zack Peacock had 10.

Anthony Fisher, the Golden Eagles' (4-9) top scorer, had 23 points and McKenzie added 16 points and 11 rebounds for Tennessee Tech.

Georgia Tech's biggest lead was 28 points at 65-37 on a 3-point basket by Matt Causey with 8:38 left to play.

``We got off to a poor start and Georgia Tech is extremely athletic,'' said Tennessee Tech coach Mike Sutton. ``We ended up tied in rebounds at the half, but you can't turn the ball over 27 times and expect to beat a quality team, which they are.''

The Yellow Jackets led 40-19 at the half on a 3-point basket with 24 seconds left by Anthony Morrow, their leading scorer. It was their biggest lead of the first 20 minutes. Georgia Tech was 0-for-10, including 0-for-4 by Morrow on 3's before the bucket.

Morrow wound up with seven points and was 1-of-8 from the field, including 1-of-5 3-shot attempts. The Yellow Jackets made only 2-of-16 3's.

Meanwhile, Tennessee Tech made only 6-of-22 shots (27.3 percent) and missed all six 3-point attempts in the opening half. Tech's pressing defense led to 21 points on the 16 turnovers.

Tennessee Tech finished with 2-of-11 3's, both by Fisher.

Georgia Tech led 7-0 just over three minutes into the game and the Golden Eagles missed their first nine shots before Anthony Fisher got their first basket after 5:08.

The Yellow Jackets will host Florida State on Sunday, their Atlantic Coast Conference opener.