Field Level Media
Mar 11, 2021
Jordan Usher had 15-points and a game-sealing dunk in the closing seconds as fourth-seeded Georgia Tech rallied in the second half to end 13th-seeded Miami's record run in the ACC tournament with a 70-66 victory in the quarterfinals on Thursday at Greensboro, N.C.
Jose Alvarado, the ACC's Defensive Player of the Year, added 13 points, as did Michael Devoe for the Yellow Jackets (16-8). Georgia Tech extended its winning streak to seven games and earned a date against top-seeded Virginia in the semifinals on Friday.
The Hurricanes (10-17), who were the first No. 13 seed to reach the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament, received 25 points and seven rebounds from Kameron McGusty. Nysier Brooks had 19 points with six rebounds, while Isaiah Wong had 12 points and four assists.
After trailing 33-29 at halftime, Jordan Usher's dunk with 11:31 remaining gave Georgia Tech a 53-51 lead it wouldn't relinquish. The Yellow Jackets stretched their advantage to as many as eight points at 66-58 following Alvarado's two free throws with 3:21 remaining.
The Hurricanes pulled to within 68-66 on McGusty's 3-pointer with 31.9 seconds remaining. But the Yellow Jackets secured their first victory in an ACC tournament game in coach Josh Pastner's five years when Usher dunked with 16.5 seconds remaining for the final four-point margin and Miami turned it over on its ensuing possession.
The Hurricanes committed 12 of their 18 turnovers in the second half, when they made just 10 field goals, with five coming from beyond the 3-point arc.
Georgia Tech made 17 field goals on 30 attempts in the second half and (56.7 percent) after making just 11 on 28 attempts in the first half (39.3 percent).
Georgia Tech's Moses Wright, the ACC's Player of the Year, scored seven points on 3-of-9 shooting and added six rebounds before fouling out with 2:30 remaining.
Miami grabbed the halftime lead largely on play of Brooks and McGusty, who combined for 24 points. Brooks scored 16 on 5-of-7 shooting, going 6-of-8 from the free-throw line, while McGusty scored eight points on 4-of-7 shooting.
--Field Level Media