ATLANTA - Lewis Clinch scored 20 points and Georgia Tech rallied in the second half to avoid another embarrassing out-of-conference loss, beating city rival Georgia State 72-67 Wednesday night.
The Yellow Jackets (4-4) already had lost to UNC-Greensboro and Winthrop, and they trailed the lowly Panthers 40-32 after going nearly 5 minutes without a point to start the second half.
But Georgia State (2-5), which was hosting Georgia Tech for the first time since 1973 even though the Atlanta schools are only a couple of miles apart, couldn't hold on for the first signature win of coach Rod Barnes' tenure.
Clinch hit a jumper in the lane with 6:02 remaining to cap a 13-5 run that gave the Yellow Jackets their first lead of the second half, 58-56.
Leonard Mendez, who led the Panthers with 20 points, made two free throws to tie it up again, but Josh Peacock scored on the inside after setting a big pick near midcourt. Georgia Tech led the rest of the way.
Georgia State's last chance came after Peacock was whistled for a technical with 2:01 remaining. Mendez made two free throws to pull the Panthers within 64-62, and they got the ball back with 6 seconds left on the shot clock.
But Rashad Chase stumbled trying to drive and Georgia State never got off a shot.
Clinch wrapped it up at the foul line, hitting a pair of free throws with 3.7 seconds remaining to finish off the Panthers.
Peacock added 19 points for Georgia Tech.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Thursday
May 15th, 2025
7:49PM
