ATLANTA (AP) — Adam Smith scored 20 points to set a personal high as Georgia Tech dominated Colgate Wednesday night, whipping the Raiders 76-60 behind big advantages in strength and shooting.
Smith, who transferred to Georgia Tech (9-3) after graduating from Virginia Tech, where he led the ACC in 3-point shooting last season, made 8 of 11 shots and had plenty of help. The Yellow Jackets shot 56-percent from the field (33-59).
The Jackets led 40-28 at halftime, and senior Charles Mitchell went on to record 18 points and seven rebounds — just the second time in 12 games that he's fallen short of a double-double.
Austin Tillotson paced Colgate (4-7) with 12 points, but he and the Raiders struggled to keep up on the glass.
Georgia Tech forged a 34-21 rebounding edge, limiting Colgate to just five offensive rebounds on 24 missed shots.
Wednesday was Smith's most productive night for Georgia Tech, although he scored 28 for the Hokies against Radford two seasons ago.
Colgate made one run at the Yellow Jackets. After falling behind 11-2 to open the game, they scored on five of their next possessions, and took a 14-13 lead when Francisco Amiel made a 3-pointer with 11:56 left in the first half.
Georgia Tech quickly turned that around.
Nick Jacobs came off the bench to tip in a close-range miss by teammate Ben Lammers — and just moments later Lammers intercepted Colgate's inbounds pass.
He passed quickly to Travis Jorgensen in the left corner, and Tech's reserve point guard buried a 16-foot jumper.
The Jackets led 17-14 with 11:22 to go, and never looked back.
Georgia Tech has struggled on offense during coach Brian Gregory's first four seasons, but they've been better this season with the help of four transfer players, including Smith.
The Yellow Jackets scored on 61.7 percent of their possessions Wednesday (37-of-60).
Jorgenson scored seven, and dished out six assists.
Colgate didn't shoot poorly (49-percent), but the disparity in rebounding left the Raiders taking 10 fewer shots than Georgia Tech, and the visitors never got their preferred long-distance game cranked up.
The Raiders made 23-of-47 shots but were whipped 16-7 in second-chance points, and 15-8 off their nine turnovers.
UP NEXT
Colgate will play host to LaFayette Dec. 30.
Georgia Tech will play its final non-conference game Dec. 29, at home against Duquesne.
