{"id":557850,"date":"2026-01-24T14:12:15","date_gmt":"2026-01-24T14:12:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/557850\/"},"modified":"2026-01-24T14:12:15","modified_gmt":"2026-01-24T14:12:15","slug":"georgia-tech-vs-clemson-mens-basketball-georgia-tech-yellow-jackets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/557850\/","title":{"rendered":"Georgia Tech vs. Clemson \u2013 Men’s Basketball \u2014 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Andy Demetra | Voice of the Yellow Jackets<\/p>\n

A win is only as good as the follow-up.<\/p>\n

A loss is only as bad as the response.<\/p>\n

After watching his team sputter to an 89-66 defeat to Pittsburgh, Damon Stoudamire sensed Georgia Tech (11-8, 2-4 ACC) had reached a line-in-the-sand moment. How they held themselves accountable, how they rallied together and responded in their next matchup, against a hot-shooting NC State team at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, would be telling \u2013 one way or another.<\/p>\n

How did we get here? And where do we go from here? Those questions set the tone for the Yellow Jackets\u2019 next team meeting.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe got a lot of clarity out of that meeting. It was a good meeting. What I took from there was that we\u2019re still a connected group,\u201d Stoudamire said afterwards.<\/p>\n

That clarity and connectedness showed in a 78-74 come-from-behind win over the Wolfpack<\/a> last Saturday.<\/p>\n

The Yellow Jackets responded from a listless loss.<\/p>\n

Can they now follow up on a stirring win?<\/p>\n

After a midweek bye, Georgia Tech\u2019s next opportunity comes at McCamish Pavilion against No. 18 Clemson (16-4, 6-1 ACC), which may find itself asking the same question that Tech did a week ago. Enjoy the top notes from my chart as the Jackets try to follow their first road win of the season with their first ranked win of the season (12:00 p.m. ET, Georgia Tech Sports Network).<\/p>\n

\"\"\/ <\/a> Georgia Tech captured its first road win of the season at NC State last Saturday. (photo by Jaylynn Nash)<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Unlike Tech, Clemson will be looking to brush off a loss to NC State: The Tigers had their nine-game win streak snapped on Tuesday in an 80-76 overtime loss to the Wolfpack at Littlejohn Coliseum.<\/p>\n

Despite the setback, winning has remained a constant at Clemson, even with a roster that saw six players transfer and seven others exhaust their eligibility. The Tigers have won 11 straight ACC road games, and 16th-year head coach Brad Brownell still runs a system based on spacing, cutting, smart passing, and post touches. Between 6-7, 240-pound R.J. Godfrey (team-leading 12.2 ppg), 6-11 Carter Welling and 6-10 Nick Davidson, Clemson has a fleet of hard-to-move post targets with a knack for creating seals and angles.<\/p>\n

The Tigers aren\u2019t quite as dynamic from deep \u2013 they rank 223rd nationally in three-point percentage (33.4%) after finishing 39th in that category a year ago \u2013 though they\u2019re actually hoisting threes at a higher rate than last year. Point guard Dillon Hunter is Clemson\u2019s leader in both assists (3.2) and three-point percentage (39.7%) and offers no easy answers on ball screen coverage, while transfer Jestin Porter (11.2 ppg) gives them burst off the dribble. They\u2019ll likely come out aggressive after going a combined 5 for 22 against NC State.<\/p>\n

Managing the turnover margin will be crucial Saturday: Clemson commits the fewest turnovers per game in the ACC (9.8), while Georgia Tech averages the most (13.8). Can the Jackets also be disciplined on shot fakes and match a team that plays as physically as anyone in the ACC? Worth remembering: Clemson ranked third in the ACC in efficiency a year ago. Georgia Tech held them to 39.5% shooting across their two meetings.<\/p>\n

When Georgia Tech knocked off Clemson in triple overtime last year, the Tigers ranked 22nd nationally in efficiency and 11th in three-point percentage. The Jackets held them to 36.4% shooting on their home floor.<\/p>\n

When Tech knocked off NC State last week, the Wolfpack came in with strikingly similar rankings\u2026 and Georgia Tech held them to strikingly similar shooting numbers.<\/p>\n

Team\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Off. Efficiency\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 3pt.%\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 FG% vs. GT
at Clemson \u201925 (W)\u00a0 \u00a0 #22 NCAA\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 #11 NCAA\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 36.4%
at NC State \u201926 (W)\u00a0 \u00a0 #26 NCAA\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 #7 NCAA\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 37.1%<\/p>\n

Since that loss at Littlejohn, Clemson had won 14 straight ACC regular season games before falling to the Wolfpack.<\/p>\n

\"\"\/ <\/a> Jaeden Mustaf has scored in double-figures three times in ACC play. (photo by Danny Karnik)<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

NC State\u2019s bench featured 6-8 freshman Musa Sagnia, a native of The Gambia who spent the past four years playing in the Spanish Liga ACB (where he occasionally dueled against former Yellow Jacket Ben Lammers<\/a>).<\/p>\n

The Gambia isn\u2019t exactly well-worn recruiting territory in college basketball. There couldn\u2019t possibly be a connection between Sagnia\u2019s mater patria and this year\u2019s Georgia Tech team, could there?<\/p>\n

Au contraire. Jaeden Mustaf\u2019s father, Jerrod, was appointed Sports Ambassador to The Gambia<\/a> in 2006.<\/p>\n

Mustaf paid his father quite the homage in Raleigh, recording his first career double-double and holding NC State\u2019s leading scorer Darrion Williams to 2 of 11 shooting.<\/p>\n

That two-way ability may be in even greater demand against Clemson, which ranks 15th nationally in defensive efficiency. The Tigers are physical with cutters, force drives into help, and flatten out teams\u2019 spacing in the halfcourt, all of which result in labor-intensive possessions and disjointed, late-shot clock isolations:<\/p>\n

Opponents vs. Clemson
Category\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Rate\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 NCAA Rank
Offensive Rebounding %\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 24.8%\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 #7
Assist Rate\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 44.4%\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 #17
3pt.%\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 29.3%\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 #23
Average Possession Length\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 18.6 seconds\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 #357
*-Per KenPom<\/p>\n

Georgia Tech had success against NC State by playing inside-out. Can they continue to cut with pace, not get bogged down in their short rolls, and get second-side opportunities against the Tigers\u2019 prickly defense? With Clemson\u2019s preference for playing two bigs, will that demand more of Tech\u2019s frontcourt players besides Baye Ndongo? The junior had double-doubles in both meetings against Clemson last year and comes in needing eight points to reach 1,000 for his career.<\/p>\n

\"\"\/ <\/a> Baye Ndongo has posted three double-doubles against Clemson in four meetings. (photo by Danny Karnik)<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

They\u2019ve tested their nerves, to say nothing of their stamina. But all-time, Georgia Tech has played in four triple-overtime games.<\/p>\n

The Jackets have won all four of them.<\/p>\n

Even more impressive: Its opponent was ranked, and Georgia Tech came in unranked, in three of them.<\/p>\n

Georgia Tech \u2013 Triple overtime games
Date\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Opponent\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Score
2-14-59\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 #14 Oklahoma City\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 W 71-65
1-23-84\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Virginia\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 W 72-71
12-19-90\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 #17 Georgia\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 W 112-105
2-4-25\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 #21 Clemson\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 W 89-86<\/p>\n

Now that we\u2019re prepared, we hope you are as well. Join us for pregame coverage starting with the \u201cRamblin\u2019 Wreck Tipoff Show\u201d at 11:30 a.m. ET on the Georgia Tech Sports Network. See you at McCamish.<\/p>\n

-AD-<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"By Andy Demetra | Voice of the Yellow Jackets A win is only as good as the follow-up.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":557851,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[3723],"tags":[7,217,228,9423,9422,9417,9424,9421,9418,9419,9420,1842,1843,231,772,1544,9427,9425,9428,276,1238,9426],"class_list":["post-557850","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-ncaa-basketball","tag-basketball","tag-college-basketball","tag-featured","tag-georgia-tech-football","tag-georgia-tech-sports","tag-georgia-tech-yellow-jackets","tag-georgia-tech-yellow-jackets-news","tag-georgia-tech-yellow-jackets-sports","tag-georgia-tech-yellow-jackets-tickets","tag-gt","tag-gt-tickets","tag-headlines","tag-men-s-basketball","tag-ncaa","tag-ncaa-basketball","tag-ncaab","tag-official-gear-georgia-tech-yellow-jackets","tag-official-georgia-tech-yellow-jackets-sports","tag-schedules","tag-scores","tag-stats","tag-yellow-jackets-sports"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/557850","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=557850"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/557850\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/557851"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=557850"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=557850"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=557850"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}