Jackets lose to Deacons 114-112 in 2OT

Tech lost in the opening round of the ACC tournament to Wake Forest in a double-overtime thriller, 114-112.

In a game that saw offensive explosions by both teams, 12 players combined to score in double figures. Thaddeus Young led the Jackets with a career-high 30 points and Harvey Hale scored 22 for the Deacons, including 21 in the two overtime periods.

The game had 21 ties and 14 lead changes in all, with no team extending their lead to double digits at any time in the game.

Wake Forest shot an astounding 69.6 percent on three-point shots, sinking 16 of 23. They converted five of seven shots in the overtime periods.

Tech also shot well from beyond the arc, hitting four of five in the extra time.

The Jackets led for the 10 minutes of the second half before Wake Forest began a 12-4 run to give them an eight-point lead.

Tech ended the game on an 8-3 run to send the game into overtime. The first overtime saw the game going back and forth between the two teams.

Hale hit two free throws with 12 seconds left to extend the Deacons' lead to three points. Anthony Morrow helped Tech tie it by hitting a game-tying three with just two seconds left to tie the score at 99.

"[Morrow] played a terrific game. He made some big shots," said Head Coach Paul Hewitt.

Morrow had a chance to send it to a third overtime during the second overtime after rebounding Zach Peacock's short three, but the shot rimmed out as time expired.

Tech had several opportunities to win the game in regulation, including a trip to the line by Javaris Crittenton near the end of regulation. Crittenton had the opportunity to make a three point play and put the Jackets ahead 83-82, but missed the free throw. Both teams had trouble from the charity stripe for most of the game, with both under 70 percent shooting.

"Free throw shooting hurt us... [We shot] 23-for-25. This time of the year we've got to convert higher than that," Hewitt said.

Tech also committed 22 turnovers, including eight by the team's starting point guard, Crittenton. The Jackets had just 13 assists to 22 turnovers.

Several of Tech's bench players notched career-highs in the game, including Alade Aminu. The sophomore was a perfect seven for seven from the field and scored seventeen points and also grabbed eight rebounds. Aminu fouled out near the end of regulation after 21 minutes of play.

While Tech let some chances slip away from them, Wake Forest also stepped up to seal the victory.

The Deacons' lead scorer Hale hit consecutive threes at the end of the second overtime, first tying the game at 111-111 and then hitting a three to give Wake Forest the lead at 114-111.

"I thought Hale stepped up and made some big shots. The two he made at the end [hurt]," Hewitt said.

The guard scored all the points in just 18 minutes of play. Wake Forest took two of three of the games against Tech this season, with a regular season split between the two teams.

Tech lost to Wake Forest in Winstom-Salem to extend the Jackets' mid-season skid and extend their losing streak to four. Still, Tech was able to win the next meeting at Alexander Memorial Coliseum in late February.

"It was a great game, no question about it. But it's tough when you come out on this end of it," Hewitt said.