:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45647936/usa-today-8371605.0.jpg)
Georgia Tech downs Wake Forest 73-59 in one of the more important wins of the season. Virginia Tech, Florida State and Clemson twice are four of Tech's next seven games. If Tech can finish with six conference wins they might be able to contend for the coveted 10th seed in the ACC tournament and more importantly keep Brian Gregory's streak of never losing more an 12 ACC games alive.
Georgia Tech has won their only two conference games by 20 and now 14 points in today's 73-59 win over Wake Forest. Tech held Wake to an eFG% of 35.2 and an offensive efficiency of 87.0, looking like a completely different team than in the January 10th game.
Tech was hot from the get-go, rushing out to an 11-0 lead in the first four minutes of the game. Chris Bolden, who was one of three Yellow Jackets in double figures, was the catalyst on offense hitting his first two three's. Tech would hold a steady lead until ending the half on a 5-0 run to go into the locker room ahead 34-22. Tech was 6-9 from deep in the first half, great for a team that shoots under 30 percent for the season.
Tech would start the second half much like the started the first, going on an 11-3 run spurred three's by Marcus Georges -Hunt and Travis Jorgenson, who also finished with six assists. Tech held Wake's leading scorer Codi Miller-McIntyre to just seven points on 3-10 shooting. They would lead by 50-30 with 15:00 minutes left in the game, never looking more dominant in a conference game this season.
At one point in the is game Tech was 9-14 from deep, but would finish 9-20 for the game. Either way, it was a tremendous defensive effort by Tech as they got good performances from MGH with 13 and five boards and Charles Mitchell with 15 and six. MGH is now averaging 18.4 ppg and 7 boards in his last five games.
Wake was still able to get to the foul line like last time these two teams played, but Tech did what they needed to do by taking away the east two pointers (Wake shot 31.6 from inside the arc). In their last matchup, Wake had 31 trips to the line, with just 17 trips today. For a team that holds a season foul line rate of 30 percent, limiting those free shots is key.
The Demon Deacons did make a late push near the end of the second half, but Tech had pulled so far ahead earlier the game had already been lost. Tech improves to 11-12 on the season and 2-9 in the ACC. Tech's next opponent is Virginia Tech, who is an ACC worst 9-13 this season.