POSTGAME: Tech Falls to Carlino, Marquette, 72-70

Georgia Tech (3-1) lost their first game of the season tonight against Marquette (4-2) in a game where they led in shooting percentage (44.4% to 42.6%), rebounding (41 to 29), and assists (13 to 7).

This game was all about one player managing to hit everything from everything, somehow. Matt Carlino shot 8/18 from the field, but all 8 makes were threes, and went to the line SIXTEEN times (converting fourteen). For the record, he was a 61% FT shooter coming into the game.

At halftime, I noted that Tech was doing an excellent job of staying out of foul trouble. They had committed just four fouls in the first half. They ended the game with 23 sending the Golden Eagles to the line 32 times. They also managed to turn the ball over 16 times (though 10 of those were in the first half).

However, all of this aside, the Jackets still had the ball with just under 12 seconds left down 3. Marcus Georges-Hunt, who I consider the leader of our team, splits defenders into the paint and has Tadric Jackson (3/8), Chris Bolden (2/2), and Quinton Stephens (1/7) all with open looks as the defense started to collapse. But instead, he chooses to attempt (and make) a lay up.

The real bright spot tonight where nothing really went right was Jackson, who came in at pivotal points in the game and made big plays, even if it meant going into the paint to force some shots. With 17 points, he led all Jackets in scoring and had a clutch three to bring Tech within one point in the closing seconds of the game.

Georgia Tech will continue in the Orlando Classic tomorrow at 6:30 PM on ESPNU.