Gameday Live Blog/Open Thread: Yellow Jackets vs. Broncos

Good afternoon from the Stan Sherriff Center in Honolulu, Hawai'i, where the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (4-5, 1-1 ACC) will be for the week as part of the 2019 Diamond Head Classic. They might be in Hawai'i, but the Jackets don't have much room for a vacation mentality. They're on the heels of arguably the most embarrassing loss of the Josh Pastner era after falling 67-53 to Ball State, and are in the midst of a 3 game losing streak that finds them under .500.

It's about to be a busy Christmas time for The Institute, as they are set to play 3 games in 4 days. They'll get things started against the Boise State Broncos (6-4, 1-1 MW). Georgia Tech is 10-5 all time when playing in Hawai'i, most recently having played in 2006 for the EA Sports Maui Invitational.

Tipoff is set for 5:00pm, and you can catch the game on ESPNU.

PREGAME/PREVIEW

Ahead of today's 5:00pm tip, be sure to check out our preview of the Broncos and other related readings:

Tale of The Tape: Boise State Broncos

Get To Know The 2019 Diamond Head Classic

Probable Starters:

- Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

G Bubba Parham

G Michael Devoe

F Khalid Moore

F Moses Wright

C James Banks III

- Boise State Broncos

G Alex Hobbs

G Marcus Dickinson

G Justinian Jessup

G Derrick Alston

F RJ Williams

Update: Starting point guard Jose Alvarado will make his return to the court, he announced on Twitter. Forward Jordan Usher also remains in the starting lineup in place of Khalid Moore.

I’m Back Baby !!!
— Jose Alvarado (@AlvaradoJose15) December 22, 2019

FIRST HALF:

15:37: With the addition of Jose Alvarado back to the lineup, Georgia Tech already looks leaps and bounds better than they did vs. Ball State. They are back to playing unselfish basketball and are staying in correct positions throughout the first 4 and a half minutes of the game. Tech leads 11-8, including going on a 7-0 run at one point.

15:26: Bubba Parham & Khalid Moore are the first subs (Alvarado/Usher).

14:07: GT has had 3 turnovers and been on a scoring drought in the last 2:58.

13:27: Tech has already amassed 6 fouls.

11:53: What a difference a point guard makes in this era of basketball. Georgia Tech is doing a good job at breaking down the Boise State zone and finding open shots, as they are 6-10 from the field and lead 14-13. Conversely, Boise State is doing the same, but it is not for a lack of effort from the Jackets

9:52: Boise State has been assessed a flopping warning.

9:25: The Broncos has connected on 5 of their last 7 and have a 21-17 lead.

8:58: Georgia Tech has already committed 10 team fouls.

7:31: Tech has only connected on 1 of their last 7 shots from the field, and has not scored in the last 2:21. Boise State has gotten themselves in good defensive positions, but have sold a few calls to the officials. As a result, Tech has turned it over 4 times in the last 4 minutes. They trail 24-17.

5:03: Boise State has only made 1 of their last 7 and missed their last 5.

4:43: Bubba Parham is the first GT player with 3 fouls.

3:29: Georgia Tech's defense is clawing themselves back into the game, as Boise State has bricked on their last 7 shots. On the offensive side, they are struggling to blow past the Broncos, totaling 13 team fouls and have a pair of players with 3 fouls.

2:00: Boise State's RJ Williams is assessed a Flagrant 1 foul for elbowing Moses Wright.

0:32: Offensive has been stale on both side, as Boises State has connected on 2 of their last 12 and Tech has missed their last 4 and has not gotten a field goal in nearly 4 minutes.

HALF: Boise State 31, Georgia Tech 26.

Stats at the Half:

SECOND HALF:

19:27: Banks has already received his 3rd foul of the game.

17:09: GT has gone on a 6-0 run thanks to a pair of baskets and an assist from Michael Devoe. They have cut the Bronco lead to just 34-32.

15:08: Georgia Tech's offense is looking better than it did through much of the second half. They are 6-9 from the field but continue to struggle on long balls as they are 0-2 on threes. Boise leads 39-38.

14:58: Khalid Moore is the first Yellow Jacket with 4 fouls.

13:42: Michael Devoe goes down after being poked in the eye from BSU's Jorch.

12:52: Thanks to a three pointer from Jordan Usher, GT has their first lead since the 11:30 mark of the first half.

12:00: Georgia Tech has found their groove on both ends of the floor. Active hands in passing lanes and an 8-0 run gives them a 46-41 lead about halfway through the second half. Jordan Usher has 9 second half point and is tied with Moses Wright for most among GT players with 12. They are also playing with noticeably more energy.

10:29: Tech is on 12-0 run and BSU only hit 2 of their last 10.

8:40: Everything is going GT's way. They are on an 18-2 run and Boise State has only hit 1 of their last 9.

7:24: Jordan Usher has 13 seconds half points and Tech in on a 20-2 run . Meanwhile, Boise State has hit just 1 of their last 11 and is on a 2:54 scoring drought.

4:28: Michael Devoe fouls out. He and Moses Wright have 5 fouls.

3:59: Heading into the homestretch, most of the momentum is in Tech's favor. They have hit 7 of their last 8 and 3 from Jose Alvarado extends their lead to double digits at 65-54.

3:43: Khalid Moore and Bubba Parham have 4 fouls.

1:34: Bubba Parham fouls out. He's the 3rd GT player to do so in this game.

1:05: GT has missed their last 5 but maintain a 10 point lead.

FINAL: Georgia Tech 74, Boise State 60.

Full Stats:

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