NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)—Alace Aminu had career highs with 25 points and nine rebounds as Georgia Tech avoided another upset Sunday night with a 99-85 win over Tennessee State.
Aminu made his first seven shots to help the Yellow Jackets (1-1) turn an early scare into a highlight show, avoiding its first 0-2 start since the 1974-75 season. The Tigers (1-1) have never defeated the Yellow Jackets.
Anthony Morrow had 31 points and 10 rebounds, Jeremy Smith added 16 points for Georgia Tech, which shot 60 percent. Gerald Robinson led Tennessee State with 22 points, Jerrell Houston added 15 points and six rebounds for the Tigers, who tired late against Georgia Tech’s swarming defense.
The raucous crowd seemed to rattle the Yellow Jackets early in their first trip to the Gentry Center—a cozy arena that with its pullout, wooden bleachers and the school’s band constantly blaring had the atmosphere of a rowdy high school game.
Georgia Tech was down 39-35 after a first half that had a combined 17 lead changes or ties, but showed after the break who the team from the power conference was.
The Yellow Jackets spurted out of the locker room with a 25-12 run, quieting the home crowd and cruising to the win. Several skying dunks and alley hoops followed, most notably a one-handed dunk by Smith over Andrae Belton that even sent the home crowd into a frenzy.
The Tigers closed the first half scoring 12 of the final 18 points, going to the break ahead 39-35.
