Gameday Live Blog/Open Thread: Yellow Jackets @ Tar Heels

Good afternoon from the Dean E. Smith Student Activities Center in Chapel Hill, NC, where the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (6-7, 1-2 ACC) will playing in their first game of the new decade. They're wrapping up their 5 game road trip with a matchup against the North Carolina Tar Heel (8-5, 1-1 ACC).

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Tipoff is set for 6:00pm, and you can catch the game on the ACC Network.

PREGAME/PREVIEW

Ahead of today's tipoff, be sure to check out our preview of the Tar Heels and other related readings:

What To Watch Fo Vs. North Carolina

Tale of The Tape: North Carolina Tar Heels

Watch: Josh Pastner Previews UNC

Jose Alvarado Not Making Any Excuses For 6-7 Start

UNC leads the ACC in both offensive and defensive rebounds. Play in the paint will be crucial tonight against the Heels. pic.twitter.com/QOhsEH1Yuv
— All Yellow Jackets (@GeorgiaTechSI) January 4, 2020

Probable Starters:

- Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

G Jose Alvarado

G Michael Devoe

F Jordan Usher

F Moses Wright

C James Banks III

- North Carolina Tar Heels

G Jeremiah Francis

G Brandon Robinson

G Leaky Black

F Garrison Brooks

F Armando Bacot

Not sure why a full court game with little kids has broken out at the Dean Dome, but I’m here for it. pic.twitter.com/5n6oDCY24S
— Matt McGavic (@Matt_McGavic) January 4, 2020

FIRST HALF:

17:18: Tech has taken a 4-0 lead, and has forced 3 UNC turnovers so far.

15:30: Everything is going Tech's way to start the game. They are shooting 5-9 from the field, while holding the Tar Heels to 0-6 and forcing 3 turnovers. UNC's only points have come at the charity stripe, as Tech leads 10-2. GT is surprisingly moving the ball relatively well and getting open looks.

11:58: UNC is playing absolutely abysmal basketball. Between not taking care of the ball and not making any shots, Tech has a 19-2 lead at the second media timeout. GT has held UNC to 0-9 from the field and forced 8 turnovers, while the Jackets themselves are 9-17. Tech is currently on an 11-0 run.

9:43: GT has missed their last 5 shots.

7:33: Tech's offense has slowed a bit but the Jackets are absolutely dominating the Heels. UNC is an astounding 0-15 from the field and have committed 9 turnovers. GT is getting anything they want down low, shooting 12-25 including some ferocious dunks from Moses Wright. Tech's only weak spot is beyond the arc, as they are 1-7. Otherwise, they are on a 19-2 run.

6:49: UNC makes their first FG of the game. They are now 1-16.

3:57: UNC has finally made a pair of field goal, but they are still just 2-17 so far (11.1%). Most of their points have come from the free throw line, making 12 of their 14 attempts. Tech's offense is still performing well (14-28), but Parham, Devoe and Alvarado all have 3 fouls.

2:51: UNC has made 4 of their last 5 after opening up 0-15 to start the game.

HALFTIME: Georgia Tech 47, North Carolina 27.

Stats at the Half:

SECOND HALF:

18:02: UNC is on a 9-1 run to start the second half.

15:45: Whatever Roy Williams said at halftime to his team, it worked. The Tar Heels have gone on a 16-5 run before the first media timeout. UNC is shooting 6-11 in that span, meanwhile GT has only gotten off 3 shots, connecting on 1.

11:42: Tech is starting to do a better job closing out on defense, but more importantly their offense is getting back into the swing of things. Tech has made 6 of their last 7 shots, stretching their lead back out at 16. Moses Wright & Jose Alvarado are leading the way for the Jackets with 19 and 16 respectively.

8:54: GT has made 6 of their last 7, and UNC has made their last 5.

8:19: It's a 6-0 run for the Tar Heels.

7:36: GT still possesses a 12 point lead, but UNC is doing just enough to stick around. Both teams are shooting over 55% in the second half, with Tech going 10-16. Down the stretch, the Jackets could find themselves in foul trouble as Devoe & Banks III have 4 fouls, and Alvarado & Parham have 3.

4:49: Jose Alvarado, Michael Devoe and James Banks III all have 4 fouls.

3:55: Heading into the final stretch, it's still anyone's game, with Tech leading UNC 86-74. The 21 points from Jose Alvarado is the first time all season a player not named Michael Devoe has scored 20. Not far behind him is Moses Wright with 19. On the other side, UNC's Garrison Brooks has 35 points with 17 of them coming from the free throw line.

2:21: Moses Wright also gets in double figures with 21.

Final: Georgia Tech 96, North Carolina 83.

Final Stats: