Gameday Live Blog/Open Thread: Blue Devils @ Yellow Jackets

Good afternoon from McCamish Pavilion in Atlanta, GA, where the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (7-7, 2-2 ACC) are returning from a 5 game road trip and playing in their first home game of the new decade. Before going back on the road later this week, they're set for a matchup against the #2 Duke Blue Devils (13-1, 3-0 ACC).

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Tipoff is set for 9:00pm, 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 Blue Devils and other related readings:

What To Watch For Vs. Duke

Tale of The Tape: Duke Blue Devils

5 Questions For Duke Maven's Shawn Krest

Watch: Josh Pastner Previews Duke

Watch: Jose Alvarado & James Banks III Preview Duke

The line to get into McCamish Pavilion for tonight’s matchup with Duke 👀 pic.twitter.com/3UL4nKbrx6
— All Yellow Jackets (@GeorgiaTechSI) January 9, 2020

Probable Starters:

- Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

G Jose Alvarado

G Michael Devoe

F Jordan Usher

F Moses Wright

C James Banks III

- Duke Blue Devils

G Tre Jones

G Alex O'Connell

G Cassius Stanley

F Matthew Hurt

C Vernon Carey, Jr.

Looks like @CoachCollins is ready to cheer on the Jackets tonight! pic.twitter.com/ZzqykNt5qt
— All Yellow Jackets (@GeorgiaTechSI) January 9, 2020

FIRST HALF:

15:41: So far, it has been a battle down low. Both teams are placing an emphasis in getting the ball down low to the post whether they are feeding the big man or finding cutters. Moses Wright and James Banks III have 7 of Tech's 9 points, as they lead the Blue Devils 9-6 at the first media timeout. Duke so far is winning the battle on the glass, out-rebounding the Jackets 5-1.

14:00: GT has connected on their last 5 shots.

11:58: The rebounding margin might be dead even at 7 a piece, but there has been a clear physical dominance by the Yellow Jackets so far in this game. They are holding Duke to just 4-12 from the field, but the Blue Devils are 2-4 from beyond the arc so far. If Tech can neutralize Vernon Carey, Jr. from the game. They might have to live with giving up outside shots.

9:29: James Banks III has already amassed 4 blocks.

9:18: Tech has made just 2 of their last 11 attempts.

6:49: Duke's defense has started to kick in, as the Jackets have made just 3 of their last 15 from the field. However, Tech's defense has been just as stout, particularly from center James Banks III. He has 6 points, 5 rebounds and 4 blocks in about 10 minutes on the floor. The biggest difference thus far in the game is the 3 point line. Duke is 4-6 while Tech is 0-4. The Blue Devils lead 26-22.

6:16: Duke is on a 12-2 run and have connected on their last 6 shots.

5:07: Moses Wright is given his 3rd foul of the game.

3:45: Pastner calls a timeout. Duke is on an 18-2 run and Tech hasn't scored in 3:51. The energy seems like it has been sucked out of the building. Duke leads 34-22.

0:00: In the first 6 minutes of the game, Tech was 6-7 from the field while Duke was 2-9. The latter 14 minutes? GT was 4-21 and Duke was 15-23

HALF: Duke 40, Georgia Tech 29.

Stats at the Half:

SECOND HALF:

16:48: The energy is back in McCamish. Tech is on a 7-0 run and hit their last 4 shots including an alley oop from Devoe to Wright that resulted in a Coach K timeout. Tech trails just 42-38.

15:07: Both Tech (5-8) and Duke (3-6) are shooting over 50% to begin the second half. Tech has hit 5 of their last 7.

14:02: Tech now has 3 players in double figures (Banks III, Wright, Alvarado).

11:55: Thanks to 3 consecutive 3 pointers from Alvarado, Devoe and Parham, the Jackets now have a 51-50 lead over the Blue Devils. In the second half, Tech is 9-13 from the floor, are on a 9-0 run and are a perfect 4-4 from beyond the arc.

11:07: Duke center Vernon Carey, Jr. picks up his 3rd foul.

10:00: Coach K and Pastner are getting testy after a hard foul on James Banks III by Tre Jones.

6:40: The energy levels from both the Duke and Georgia Tech sides are through the roof. Both teams are now going back and forth, and it seems like it will be a matter of who has the ball last. Jose Alvarado has 12 points in the second half alone, and a game high 16.

3:54: Heading into the final media timeout, it's anyone's game. As Tech's shooting beyond the arc has improved, the clear difference in this game has been the rebounding. A normally dominant Duke team on the boards, Tech is out-rebounding them 34-23. Duke leads 63-61.

3:42: Cassius Stanley picks up his 4th foul.

1:15: GT is just 1 for their last 10 and have not had a field goal in 4:05. They trail just 68-64.

0:43: GT has not scored a point in 2:28.

FINAL: Duke 73, Georgia Tech 64.

Final Stats:

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