Duluth, Ga. (Nov. 14, 2011) --- Georgia Tech broke open a close game late in the second half en route to a 70-52 win over Delaware State in a men's basketball contest that was closer than the score indicated at the Gwinnett Center this evening. The Hornets fell to 1-1 on the season, while the Yellow Jackets improved to 2-0.
Delaware State trailed by as many as 12 early in the second half, but pulled to within 52-46 on a layup by Amere May with 8:23 left to play. After Georgia Tech scored on its next two possessions, DSU's Tahj Tate hit a lay up to cut the Yellow Jacket lead to 56-48 with 7:13 left.
Georgia Tech answered with a 10-2 run over the next four minutes to put the game away. Kammeon Holsey, who led all players with 21 points, scored six points during the decisive spurt for the Yellow Jackets.
"I'm really proud of our effort against a very physical Atlantic Coast Conference team," said Delaware State head coach Greg Jackson. "We stayed close by executing our game plan of controlling the tempo for a good portion of the game, but their size and strength inside was the difference down the stretch."
Georgia Tech center Daniel Miller added 15 points and a career-high 15 rebounds. The Hornets were outrebounded 40-21 in the contest. The Yellow Jackets had 16 offensive rebounds, resulting in 19 points.
"They simply wore us down late in the game," said Jackson.
Georgia Tech led 11-3 in the early going before the Hornets came alive.
Jay Threatt capped of an 8-0 Delaware State run to tie the game at 11-11 with 13:59 left in the first half.
The Hornets stayed to within four points for much of the first half before a late spurt gave a Yellow Jackets a 30-23 lead at the break.
Georgia Tech outscored the Hornets 40-29 in the second half, although the Hornets hit 12 of their 24 shots from the field (50.0%) in the final 20 minutes.
Tate and Marques Oliver led Delaware State with 14 points each. Oliver, who was 7-for-10 from the field, also led the Hornets with seven rebounds and four assists. He also collected two blocks and a steal. Tate has 37 points in his first two collegiate games to lead the Hornets with an 18.5 point per-game average.
Amere May came off the bench to add 10 points for DSU. His performance was highlighted by two three-point field goals (2-for-3).
Oliver has six blocks so far this season to give him 95 in his career.
Delaware State forced 14 Georgia Tech turnovers, including nine in the first half. The Hornets committed nine turnovers in the contest.
DSU returns to action Friday at Notre Dame. Game time is 9:00 p.m. at the Joyce Center in South Bend, IN.
