Clemson Tops Georgia Tech, 81-73

Feb. 22, 2009

ATLANTA (AP) – Trevor Booker had 21 points and 12 rebounds to lead No. 13 Clemson, which overcame a 15-point deficit in an 81-73 victory over Georgia Tech on Sunday.

The Tigers (22-4, 8-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) have won six of eight and improved to 9-0 this season when Booker has a double-double.

Georgia Tech (10-16, 1-12) has lost 11 of 12 to remain in the ACC cellar, three losses behind 11th-place Virginia.

K.C. Rivers, who had 19 points for Clemson, gave his team the lead for good with a 3-pointer in the opening minute of the second half. Freshman Andre Young finished with 12 points, going 4-for-4 on 3-pointers.

The Tigers are 17-1 when outrebounding opponents this season and 32-4 over the last two. Clemson’s four ACC road wins are its most since 1996-97.

Lewis Clinch had a career-high 27 points for the Yellow Jackets, who got within 46-45 on his 3 with 14:32 remaining.

Sweeping the season series with Georgia Tech for the first time since 2005-06 and for the second time in 12 years, Clemson led 75-65 with 1:50 remaining on Booker’s rebound dunk. The play brought loud cheers from the approximately 1,500 Clemson fans at Alexander Memorial Coliseum.

Georgia Tech had won nine of 11 home games against the Tigers and 20 of 26.

Clemson, which returned to the NCAA tournament last March for the first time in nine years, is a combined 46-14 the last two seasons, 18-10 in the ACC.