Tigers Drop Heartbreaker in Atlanta, 75-73

ATLANTA — Marcus Georges-Hunt hit a pair of free throws with three seconds remaining to lift Georgia Tech to a 75-73 win over Clemson on Tuesday. It was the Tigers’ third straight loss on the road by three points or less. Both teams are now 16-12 overall. Clemson is 9-7 in ACC play, while Georgia Tech improved to 6-9.

Jaron Blossomgame put together another 20-point effort to lead the Tigers, while Donte Grantham exploded for 16 points in the second half. Clemson had 20 assists and made 12 three-point baskets, while beating Tech in points in the paint, points off turnovers, fastbreak points and bench scoring. Georges-Hunt countered with a game-high 25 points and was 8-9 from the free throw line. Adam Smith erupted in the second half and finished with 20 for the Yellow Jackets.

Clemson’s exceptional ball movement began early and lasted the entire opening 20 minutes. Ty Hudson provided a big lift with eight points in a stretch of just over three minutes. The freshman hit two three-point goals in the opening stanza, his first time connecting from long distance since the Georgia game on December 22.

Gabe DeVoe picked up right where Hudson left off, hitting a huge three of his own. But it was his passing that raised an eye, where he found Landry Nnoko and Blossomgame with beautiful looks around the rim to push Clemson’s edge. The Tigers had a 44-32 lead and the ball in hand in the final seconds, but Jordan Roper’s shot was off and the Jackets got the ball ahead to Georges-Hunt. The senior buried a long three as time expired to lift Tech’s spirits.

Both teams traded blows over the early part of the second half. After Georges-Hunt cut the lead to just six, Grantham responded with a three and Avry Holmes followed with a tough layup to push the cushion back to 60-49. Smith went off for seven straight points, the last of which came on a three-pointer that made it 63-61 in Clemson’s favor.

Smith again hit a three curling off a screen and it gave Tech its first lead of the second half at 71-70. Clemson fell behind 73-70 before Grantham hit a tying three-pointer inside the final 20 seconds. But Georges-Hunt bulled his way to the basket on the Jackets’ final possession and was able to draw the whistle to set up the clinching free throws.

The Tigers break for a bit before returning for Senior Day against Virginia on Tuesday, March 1. Tickets are available by calling 1-800-CLEMSON or by visiting ClemsonTigers.com.