Better Late Than Never, Georgia Tech Gets Third Win Over UNC

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Count Georgia Tech head coach Paul Hewitt among those who believed the Yellow Jackets could be special this season. Better late -- make that really, really late -- than never.

Underachieving Georgia Tech stormed back from an early 13-point deficit and needed every bit of its resolve late to beat North Carolina 62-58 here Thursday in opening-round play of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament.

The seventh-seeded Yellow Jackets (20-11), losers of three of their last four and six of their last nine, desperately needed the win. For openers, it should help steady Tech's NCAA tourney standing after its dismal regular-season finish. It should also quiet the whispers, at least for the time being, surrounding Hewitt's status.

Tech athletic director Dan Radakovich, in a recent e-mail to media outlets, said he would evaluate Hewitt, in his 10th season, and the program following the season.

Tech expected to contend for the ACC regular-season title behind a talented front line and a strong recruiting class.

The Yellow Jackets needed a huge favor against the Tar Heels, and they got one -- from Derrick Favors, a 6-foot-10 freshman who finished with 18 points and nine rebounds. Favors made 7 of 8 field goals and added five blocks.

Not to be greedy, but Tech needs three more victories to earn its first tournament title since 1993. It advances to Friday's quarterfinals against second-seeded Maryland.

For UNC, meanwhile, it was another frustrating loss in a long, frustrating season.

The Tar Heels (16-16) have never played in a qualifying-round game in the ACC tourney and entered as the 10th seed, a record low. UNC won the ACC title as recently as 2007 and 2008 and advanced to the semifinals in each of the past five years.

With thousands of empty green chairs at the Greensboro Coliseum, capacity 23,500, it was apparent that UNC fans didn't give their team much of a chance against the Yellow Jackets. Tech swept the season series.

UNC, however, displayed plenty of effort and grit.

They used a 17-0 explosion to build an early 24-13 lead. That advantage grew to 13 points at 28-15 with just over four minutes remaining in the first half.

Somehow, you knew it wouldn't last. And it didn't.

Still, the game featured seven ties and five lead changes. Tech finally surged back in front at 39-38 early in the second half on Glen Rice's trey.

The see-saw contest wasn't settled until the final four minutes.

Tyler Zeller came off the bench to pace UNC with 17 points and 10 boards. Will Graves was the only other Tar Heel in double digits with 10.

UNC out-rebounded Tech 46-37 and committed just 10 turnovers.

GAME BALL GOES TO:

Tech's Derrick Favors. Perhaps Tech's steadiest player the entire season, Favors has become more of a force inside for the Yellow Jackets over the last three weeks. He has scored in double digits in six consecutive games, averaging nearly 17 points a game. He also has averaged around nine rebounds per game in those six games, blocked 17 shots, dished out nine assists, and hit 41-of-61 shots from the floor.

HEART GOES OUT TO:

UNC's Tyler Zeller. The big fella came off the bench and led the Tar Heels with 17 points and 10 rebounds in 25 minutes. Zeller helped UNC hold its own, if not dominate at times, the athletic and talented Tech front line. Remember, UNC has also been without Ed Davis, the team's leading rebounder, shot blocker and second-leading scorer, with a broken bone in his left wrist.

Let's face it. With senior leader D'Andre Bell back after missing last season with an injury and top inside player Gani Lawal opting to return instead of entering the NBA Draft, mixed in with the young talent such as Favors, the Yellow Jackets should be better than the undermanned Tar Heels.

KEY ELEMENT:

The Yellow Jackets kept their poise. Tech was being out-played by an inferior opponent but, when it came time to deliver, the Yellow Jackets answered. It may have saved their season and Hewitt's fate.

WHERE TO FROM HERE:

For UNC, back to work -- possibly. Williams has said he would welcome the opportunity for his team to play in the NIT, believing it could use the experience. However, it remains to be seen if the Tar Heels administration -- and proud fans -- would agree to extend their season.

WHO'S GOT NEXT:

The Yellow Jackets didn't need to hurry back to their team hotel to watch video on Friday's quarterfinal opponent Maryland. The pain from the pair's last meeting is still fresh in Tech's mind.The Terps beat the Jackets on a buzzer-beater, 76-74.

"We just want to get settled down after this game," Hewitt said. "This is an important game for us. When we get back to the hotel, we can start thinking and talking about Maryland."

SOUNDBITE:

"I just took it upon myself for the team not to lose." Tech freshman Derrick Favors