Miles Kelly scored a game-high 25 points, and Kyle Sturdivant made four key free throws in the final moments as the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets hung on for an 80-76 win over the host Miami Hurricanes in an Atlantic Coast Conference contest on Saturday afternoon.
Miami (15-13, 6-11), a Final Four team last year, has lost six consecutive games. It is Miami’s longest skid since dropping six straight in February/March of 2021.
Kelly made 9-of-15 shots overall, including 7-of-11 on 3-pointers as the Yellow Jackets (12-16, 5-12) improved to 4-13 in their past 17 games.
Georgia Tech made no field goals over the final 7:03 but still hung on to win in Miami for the first time since 2021.
Kowacie Reeves Jr. had 15 points for Georgia Tech, and Sturdivant added 10.
Bensley Joseph and Kyshawn George led Miami with 16 points each. However, George was held scoreless in the second half.
Matthew Cleveland scored 10 points, returning to Miami’s lineup after missing one game due to illness.
Miami starter and elite 3-point shooter Nijel Pack missed his third straight game due to a knee injury.
Georgia Tech’s Dallan Coleman scored eight points after missing four straight games due to concussion protocol.
To start the game, Miami made its first four shots — including three from beyond the arc — building an 11-5 lead. But Miami missed its next seven shots as Georgia Tech went on a 9-0 run.
After eight tie scores and six lead changes, Miami led 49-45 at halftime.
Georgia Tech started the second half on a 9-0 run — two dunks, a layup and a 3-pointer — for a 54-49 lead.
The Yellow Jackets extended their lead to 76-63, but Miami — playing five guards — went on a 10-0 run to cut its deficit to 76-73 with 2:54 left.
Georgia Tech, which went scoreless for 6:23, finally made two free throws by Sturdivant.
Miami got a 3-pointer from Joseph with 16.4 seconds left, cutting its deficit to 78-76, but two more Sturdivant free throws put the game away.
–Field Level Media