Men’s Hoops Loses Heartbreaker to Georgia Tech

January 29, 1999

ATLANTA –Jason Collier matched career highs with 25 points and 11 rebounds as Georgia Tech edged Clemson 66-62 Thursday night in a game that saw both teams go scoreless for the first five minutes.

Tech (13-7, 4-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) missed its first nine shots before Collier broke a scoreless tie on an inside move 5:10 into the game. Clemson (12-9, 1-7) missed its first four shots and also had five turnovers before Harold Jamison hit two free throws with 14:14 left in the half.

It was the third victory in four games for the Yellow Jackets and the sixth loss in a row for Clemson, which has lost eight of its last nine.

Freshman Will Solomon led the Tigers with a season-high 20 points and Jamison added 14.

Collier’s points were the most since he joined Tech at midseason, matching his high when he was at Indiana.

Tony Akins added 14 points and Alvin Jones 13 for the Yellow Jackets.

Akins hit three of his four 3-point baskets in the first half to help Tech build a 25-24 lead.

Clemson took the lead early in the second half, stretching it to 48-40 on a basket by Terrell McIntyre with 9:49 remaining. McIntyre had 13 for the Tigers.

But Tech fought back behind Jones and Collier to draw even at 50 on a pair of Collier free throws with 7:21 to play.

Collier’s 3-pointer with 2:56 left gave Tech a 61-56 lead and Clemson never got closer than a point the rest of the way.

By ED SHEARER AP Sports Writer