Gameday Live Blog/Open Thread: Phoenix @ Yellow Jackets

The home opener is finally here, and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (1-0, 1-0 ACC) are set to take on the Elon Phoenix (2-0, 0-0 CAA) for the first 2019-20 regular season game in McCamish Pavilion.

The Yellow Jackets are coming off a thrilling come from behind victory, one that saw them take down the North Carolina State Wolfpack 82-81 in overtime at PNC Arena.

Tipoff is set for 7:30, and you can catch the game on ACC Network Extra.

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PREGAME/PREVIEW

Ahead of today's 7:30 tip, be sure to check out our preview & statistical comparison to the Elon Phoenix:

What To Watch For Vs. Elon

Tale of The Tape: Elon Phoenix

Announced Starters:

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

G Michael Devoe

G Bubba Parham

F Moses Wright

F Khalid Moore

F/C James Banks III

- Note: G Jose Alvarado, who started against NC State, is in a walking boot and will not play tonight.

Elon Phoenix

G Hunter McIntosh

G Marcus Sheffield II

F Federico Poser

F Hunter Woods

F Simon Wright

FIRST HALF:

Tech's first points of the night come at the free throw line, with Khalid Moore going 1-2.

Jackets have tried to run the fast break in transition early, but so far in the first 3 minutes have been relatively unsuccessful once once on the other side of the court. Only successful possession prior to the first official's timeout, a Michael Devoe 3. Otherwise, they have 4 turnovers in the first 4:10.

First subs of the game: Evan Cole & Asanti Price

Coming off the bench, Cole immediately contributes: 4 rebounds, a pair of free throws, an assist and a block.

Tech is struggling mightily to shoot the ball early. At the 10:44 mark of the first half, the Yellow Jackets are shooting 25% (3-12). Michael Devoe leading the way early with 7 of Tech's 10 points (up 10-6).

Georgia Tech goes on a 13 point run and forces Elon to call a timeout. Michael Devoe is the first scorer in double digits: 10 points on 4-7 shooting an 2-3 from 3. Evan Cole is stepping up in the paint, already hauling in 5 boards.

Coming out of the timeout, Elon immediately goes on a 7-0 run, with 5 of those points coming off turnovers. At the 3:39 mark, Tech already has amassed 8 turnovers.

In the closing minutes of the first half, neither team can seem to play without committing a foul. A combined 6 fouls were called, in the final 3:39 of the first half. Tech went on an 8-0 run to end the half, with 6 of their points coming at the free throw line.

HALFTIME:

Halftime Analysis:

- Tech's defense is the reason they are in this game. They holding the Phoenix to just 18.8% from the floor (6-32), but themselves are just 30.4% (7-23).

- Like in the first half vs. NC State, the Yellow Jackets have been sloppy handling the ball. They've committed 10 turnovers, with many of them trying execute the fast break. If this is their game plan in the second half: they must do better in finding their open man in transition.

- Evan Cole and Asanti Price have played well coming off the bench accounting for 11 of Tech's 24 rebounds. Both have a +/- rating in the double digits.

- As expected, Marcus Sheffield II, the Elon grad transfer from Stanford, is leading the way for the Phoenix. However, the defsne is holding him to just 3-9 shooting and 6 points.

SECOND HALF:

At the first media timeout of the second half, both teams are continuing the foul fest from the closing minutes of the first half. 4 of the combined 9 points so far of the second half have come at the charity stripe. Moses Wright picks up his 4th foul of the game just a few minutes into the second half.

Out of the media timeout, the Yellow Jackets have started to pull away from the Phoenix. Elon has missed their last 12 field goal attempts, while Tech has gone on an 11-3 run since the half started.

It might have taken until halfway through the second half, but at the 10:58 timeout, the Yellow Jackets are covering the 22 point spread. Tech up 41-19, with Michael Devoe's 15 leading all scorers (6-9 from field, 3-4 from 3).

Also, Bubba Parham drilled a 3 from almost half court. Crowd appropriately goes nuts.

Going into the home stretch, Elon is trying there best to make it a game. However, their own offensive ineptitude keeps getting in their way, as they are shooting 5-27 in the second half alone. It also helps to have an elite defender such as James Banks III prowling the paint. He has 5 blocks so far.

It's officially time to rest the starters, as JUCO transfer David Didenko enters at the 4:27 mark.

Elon heads into the final media timeout with a 7-0 run, but it's too little too late for the Phoenix. They make their third 3 pointer of the game to finally get out of the single digit 3 point shooting percentage.

FINAL: Georgia Tech 64, Elon 41.

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