ATLANTA (AP) — Michael Devoe scored 15 of his 26 points in the second half and Georgia Tech rallied from a 12-point halftime deficit to defeat Georgia Southern 61-59 on Friday.
The Yellow Jackets (5-1) got 11 points from Kyle Sturdivant and 10 from Rodney Howard in winning their fifth straight. It was their first meeting in 25 years against the Eagles (4-2) in a series they lead 4-2 dating back to 1953. Devoe, second in the nation making 65% of his 3-pointers, was 5 of 9 behind the arc.
Elijah McCadden and Cam Bryant scored 14 points for Georgia Southern and Kamari Brown had 13.
Bryant and Brown had 11 points apiece in the first half when the Eagles shot 55% (16 of 29) while Georgia Tech was at 35%. Bryant knocked down three 3-pointers to stretch a one-point lead to 10 in 77 seconds in the middle of the half. Brown followed a 3 with a pair of free throws in the final minute to make it 39-25 before Devoe made two free throws.
Howard scored the first five points of the second half as the Yellowjackets opened with an 18-3 run for a 45-42 lead.
It was tied a 50 at the 8:25 mark when Devoe hit a 3-pointer.
Georgia Southern only made 3 of 12 shots in the final 6 1/2 minutes but Georgia Tech had four turnovers in the last 3:50 and missed a pair of free throws.
The Yellowjackets were only 12 of 24 at the line while Georgia Southern was 1 of 9 from the 3-point line in the second half, shooting 29% overall (8 of 28).
Georgia Tech plays host to Wisconsin on Wednesday in the Big Ten/ACC challenge and opens league play against North Carolina on Dec. 5.
