Wrecking Tech Again

Just like...ok, hopefully by now you know the end of the line.

It may have been absent of style points for a good part of the way, but Georgia left Atlanta on Saturday with yet another Hoop Dawgs win over Georgia Tech by way of a 70-59 victory.

Georgia never trailed as Tech hung close most of the day, trailing 57-53 with 1:44 to go. That’s when the Hoop Dawgs put things to bed on Tyree Crump’s second three-pointer of the game and a rim-rattling dunk by Derek Ogbeide to seal the victory.

Neither team was especially spectacular shooting the ball. While Georgia was 46 percent from the field, Georgia Tech was even worse, held to 32 percent, 27 percent in the first half.

Nic Claxton, held scoreless in the first half, ended up leading all Bulldogs with 13 points, but his day was more than just facet. He was a powerful presence in the paint with 13 rebounds, six blocks and six assists. Also leading Georgia were Teshaun Hightower and Rayshaun Hammonds adding 12 and 11, respectively. Crump helped with his 10 points.

Hightower’s big shot came early in the second half, a three-pointer halting a 7-0 Tech run that had trimmed Georgia’s lead to three points.

It’s a huge win for Georgia’s senior class, which if nothing else, will graduate with a perfect 4-0 mark vs. Tech.

Even with last week’s lost chance to topped No. 20 Arizona State in the recent view, the triumph over the Yellow Jackets is huge for Tom Crean in year one of his tenure. This Georgia team may take its share of lumps as it adapts to Crean’s system and until the Bulldogs bench boss gets player perfectly fit for his scheme as this year goes on. Despite all that, rivalry wins are huge for any new coach, regardless of how they come.

There is no such thing as a bad win over Tech for a Georgia team. Ever.

Georgia returns to play on Dec. 30 when it hosts UMass.

Go Dawgs!