Jackets wrap up regular season with win over BC

BOSTON - Jeremis Smith had 20 points and grabbed ten rebounds to lead Georgia Tech to an 86-78 victory over Boston College as the two schools finished their regular season.

The Yellow Jackets (14-16, 7-9) finished in seventh place in the conference heading into next week's tournament in Charlotte, N.C., where they will play Virginia in the first round.

Georgia Tech beat Virginia 92-82 in overtime on the road in January, then lost 76-74 at home last week.

``We've been in every game this year,'' coach Paul Hewitt said. ``So we feel like we can play with anyone. I'm more focused on resting our guys right now.''

Using a fullcourt press, Georgia Tech forced BC into 20 turnovers.
Georgia Tech took a nine-point lead at 32-23 on Lewis Clinch's 3-pointer with 4:31 left in the first half. But BC rallied and took a short-lived lead with 49 seconds left in the half.

The loss almost assuredly ends a three-year run for the Eagles in the NCAA Tournament.

Boston College (13-16, 4-12) lost its last six games and 12 of its last 13 to drop into 11th (with a tiebreaker edge over North Carolina State) in the 12-team ACC. The Eagles will play either Maryland or Miami in the first round. BC is 1-1 against each, losing to both in their latest meeting.

Georgia Tech took a nine-point lead, 32-23, on Lewis Clinch's 3-pointer with 4:31 left in the first half. But BC scored 10 of the next 11 points six of them by Rice to tie it, then took a short-lived lead with 49 seconds left in the half.

The Eagles couldn't hold on in the second, though, when Tech made 17 of 24 from the floor.

BC led 47-46 when Peacock made a layup to start an 11-2 run. Anthony Morrow hit a 3-pointer with 9:22 left to give the Yellow Jackets their first double-digit lead of the game, 62-52.

It was 76-60 before BC began shooting 3-pointers and fouling, a technique that allowed them to cut the deficit to six points, 82-76, with 24 seconds left.
Corey Raji had 17 points and seven rebounds for BC.