Georges-Hunt has 16 points, GT beats RI 64-61

Nov 30, 2014, 09:55 pm

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Marcus Georges-Hunt scored 16 points and Georgia Tech beat Rhode Island 64-61 Sunday night in the fifth-place game at the Orlando Classic.

The victory was Georgia Tech's 1,300th. The Yellow Jackets, in their 100th season, are 1,300-1,158.

Georgia Tech (5-1) also got 11 points from Demarco Cox.

"We did a lot of good things," Georgia Tech coach Brian Gregory said. "I thought we grew up a little bit in this tournament."

E.C. Matthews had 17 points for Rhode Island (4-2) and finished with 56 in the Rams' three games. His 3-pointer cut the Rams deficit to 63-61 with 2.6 seconds to go.

"It's a young team," Rhode Island coach Dan Hurley said. "There's going to be a lot of ups and downs. A lot of growing pains with this group."

After Georgia Tech's Robert Sampson made one of two free throws, Matthews' half-court 3-point try hit the front of the rim.

Georges-Hunt got his first four points of the second half, on two free throws and basket, as Georgia Tech went ahead 52-45 with 5 minutes remaining.

Quinton Stephens' 4-point play gave Georgia Tech a 45-37 advantage with 8 minutes to go.

Consecutive 3-point plays by Jarelle Reischel and Jared Terrell got Rhode Island within 39-35 midway through the second half.

Georges-Hunt had 12 points to help Georgia Tech go up 29-18 at the half. Hunt had a 3 and slam during the Yellow Jackets half-ending 14-0 run.

After Georgia Tech got the first three points of the second half on Travis Jorgenson's long-range jumper, Hassan Martin had two baskets during Rhode Island's 6-0 run that cut the Rams deficit to 32-24.

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TIP-INS

Rhode Island: The Rams went 1-2 at the classic. ... Martin and Jared Terrell had 10 points apiece.

Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets are 5-1 for the first time since the 2009-10 season. ... Georgia Tech went 2-1 for the fifth time in its last eight Thanksgiving events.

"We'll take 2-1," Gregory said. "We would have liked to have been playing earlier today (in the championship game), but we've got a tough stretch ahead."

UP NEXT

Rhode Island plays Saturday night at Southern Miss.

Georgia Tech is at Northwestern Wednesday night.