Jackets toe the line, march on

MILWAUKEE -- Too bad the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets gave up their cell phones. They'd sure love to spread the word about this win.

Gani Lawal scored 14 points, Derrick Favors came within a rebound of a double-double and the free throw-challenged Yellow Jackets scored their last 13 points at the line Friday night to hold off seventh-seeded Oklahoma State 64-59 in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

The Yellow Jackets had lost five of seven heading into last weekend's Atlantic Coast Conference tournament. Desperate for something that could bring his team together, coach Paul Hewitt suggested his players give up their cell phones. Wary at first, the Yellow Jackets did it - and lo and behold. They won three straight before falling to Duke in the championship game.

With that kind of result, there was no question the Yellow Jackets were handing over their phones again this week.

It was a disappointing finish for James Anderson and the Cowboys (22-11), who never seemed to find their rhythm. Anderson, the nation's third-leading scorer, was just 3 of 12 for 11 points, half his average. Obi Muonelo was held to 10 points and the Cowboys, one of the nation's best from beyond the arc, were just 6 of 22 from 3-point range.

The 10th-seeded Yellow Jackets will play the winner of UC Santa Barbara-Ohio State on Sunday. And while the Buckeyes are the No. 2 seed in the Midwest, Georgia Tech has to like its chances. Its victory Friday moved them to 5-0 in NCAA tournament games at the Bradley Center.

The Yellow Jackets (23-12) had struggled at the line all year, coming into Friday night's game shooting less than 65 percent. But they made them when it counted. Held without a field goal the last 8 minutes of the game, Georgia Tech got it done at the line.

Favors, Iman Shumpert and Maurice Miller went 6 of 6 in the last 2 minutes. Georgia Tech finished 24 of 25 from the line.

Georgia Tech trailed 34-27 late in the first half - the largest deficit of the game. But Favors, the ACC freshman of the year and a projected lottery pick in this year's NBA draft, and Lawal have been carrying the Yellow Jackets all season and this night was no different. Their consecutive baskets sparked a 12-5 run that spanned halftime and tied the game at 39.

After tying the game at 43 with a slam, Favors got the ball right back for Georgia Tech. He swatted away a shot by Anderson, and Zachery Peacock's layup gave the Yellow Jackets a 45-43 lead, their first since 13:20 was left in the first half. They never trailed again.

But they couldn't put the Cowboys away, either.

Muonelo, so cold all night, drained a 3-pointer that didn't even rattle the rim. After a free throw by Shumpert - he bricked the second for Georgia Tech's only miss of the night at the line - Anderson stole the ball and dunked to tie the game at 54 with 3:32 left.

Miller, Favors and Shumpert all converted at the line to give Georgia Tech a 60-56 lead with 2:04 to play. But Keiton Page, who hadn't scored since his steal and layup that gave Oklahoma State a 7-point lead late in the first half, came up big again. He drained a 3-pointer to cut it to 60-59 with 1:42 to play.

But the Yellow Jackets got the better of Oklahoma State in several scrums for the ball, and Anderson had a critical turnover with 21 seconds left.