Atlanta, GA — Kyle Sturdivant showcased his scoring prowess, tallying 20 points with 17 of them coming in the second half, while Baye Ndongo notched a double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds as Georgia Tech secured an 85-76 victory over Florida State on Saturday in their final home game of the season.
Naithan George poured in 15 points, while Tafara Gapare and Tyzhaun Claude provided crucial rebounds with 10 each and chipped in with eight points apiece for the Yellow Jackets (13-16, 6-12 ACC). This win marked Georgia Tech’s first back-to-back victories since December and evened out the season series.
For Florida State (15-14, 9-9), Jamir Watkins led the scoring with 15 points, supported by Cameron Corhen with 14 points, and Baba Miller and Primo Spears chipping in 13 points each.
In a game marked by fluctuating shooting percentages, both teams shot over 51% in the first half, with Georgia Tech holding a slim 44-41 lead. However, shooting woes plagued the second half, with both teams starting 3 of 24 from the field. Nonetheless, a crucial tip-in by Ndongo followed by a fast-break dunk from Gapare sparked an 11-3 run for Georgia Tech, extending their lead to 78-61 with just over three minutes remaining left in the game.
Georgia Tech’s dominance on the glass was key to victory, outrebounding Florida State 55-33, including 21 offensive rebounds, played a pivotal role in the victory, resulting in 21 second-chance points despite committing 16 turnovers.
The Yellow Jackets shot an impressive 53% in the first half and maintained the lead until Darin Green Jr. hit three consecutive 3-pointers, tying the game at 23-all. Sturdivant responded with a 3-pointer, followed by a bucket from Claude, allowing Georgia Tech to head into halftime with a three-point lead.
UP NEXT:
Florida State will face Pitt on Tuesday before concluding their regular season at home against Miami next Saturday, while Georgia Tech will finish their schedule on the road against Wake Forest on Tuesday and Virginia next Saturday.
