Bethune-Cookman @ Georgia Tech preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 19, 2017 ) Bethune-Cookman 62, Georgia Tech 65

Georgia Tech has dropped back-to-back games to SEC competition by a combined total of five points, and looks to Sunday’s home contest against Bethune-Cookman as a chance to build momentum before the schedule turns difficult again. The Yellow Jackets host Nebraska in the ACC-Big 12 Challenge on Wednesday before a home game with ACC foe Syracuse and a trip to No. 11 Kentucky, and likely will be without junior point guard Jose Alvarado during that span.

Alvarado – Georgia Tech’s leader in scoring and assists a season ago – has been hobbled by a sprained right ankle that limited him to two points in 17 minutes in a loss to Georgia, and sidelined him in a victory over Elon and Monday’s 62-61 overtime loss to Arkansas. “I would love to have him this week, but it’s highly doubtful,” Yellow Jackets coach Josh Pastner told reporters this week. Without Alvarado, Georgia Tech will rely heavily on sophomore guard Michael Devoe to rebound from a 4-for-16 shooting performance against Arkansas. The Wildcats have faced one Power 5 conference team in seven games, losing 79-44 to Texas Tech.

TV: 6 p.m. ET, FSN

ABOUT BETHUNE-COOKMAN (5-2): Senior guard/forward Isaiah Bailey leads the Wildcats in scoring at 13.9 points and 3.1 assists, shooting 50 percent from the field and 81.8 percent from the free throw line. Senior forward Cletrell Pope is close behind at 13.7 points and ranks third in the nation in rebounding at 12.6. Bethune-Cookman is 35th in the country in turnovers forced per game (17.9).

ABOUT GEORGIA TECH (2-2): Devoe opened the season with a pair of 22-point performances and 34 points against Georgia before scoring just 12 in the Arkansas loss, but leads the ACC and is 15th nationally in scoring (22.5 points). Senior forward/center James Banks III averages 13.8 points, leads the Yellow Jackets in rebounding average at 9.8 and ranks second in the nation in blocked shots per game (4.5). Georgia Tech is holding opponents to 34.2 percent shooting from the field, second in the ACC and fourth in the country.

TIP-INS

1. Georgia Tech sophomore F Khalid Moore leads the ACC in steals per game (2.5).

2. The Yellow Jackets committed 24 turnovers against Arkansas, the most by a Georgia Tech team since 2012.

3. Georgia Tech G Bubba Parham, who transferred from VMI after leading the Southern Conference in scoring last season (21.4), has scored 10 points in each of his past two games.

PREDICTION: Georgia Tech 74, Bethune-Cookman 61