GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP ) — Miles Kelly scored 21 points, Javon Franklin made a go-ahead free throw with 0.3 seconds left and 13th-seeded Georgia Tech rallied to beat No. 12 seed Florida State 61-60 on Tuesday in the opening game of the ACC Tournament.
Georgia Tech (15-17) looks to extend a four-game winning streak on Wednesday against No. 5 seed Pittsburgh.
Georgia Tech trailed by as many as 11 points early in the second half. Kelly sank a 3-pointer with 5:08 remaining to pull within 51-48 and Dallan Coleman tied it at 53-all on a jumper from the free-throw line. But Florida State made a field goal on its next three possessions, capped by a 3-pointer by Caleb Mills for a 60-55 lead.
Kelly added another 3-pointer at 1:46 to get within two points and Kyle Sturdivant got a friendly bounce on a jumper to tie it at 60-all with 55.9 seconds left. Florida State had a 3-pointer rattle out and Georgia Tech dribbled down the clock.
Lance Terry drove the baseline and had a dunk bounce off the rim but Franklin grabbed the rebound and was fouled on a putback. Franklin made the first free throw before intentionally missing the second.
Tuesday Game 1 Notes
- Georgia Tech (15-17) improved to 29-38 in all-time New York Life ACC Tournament play and 12-17 in games played in Greensboro. The Yellow Jackets won the most recent tourney played at the Greensboro Coliseum prior to this year in 2021.
- Georgia Tech advances to Wednesday’s 2:30 p.m. second-round game versus No. 5 seed Pitt (21-10). The Panthers swept the regular-season series, winning 71-60 in Atlanta and 76-68 at home.
- Florida State (9-23) slipped to 20-30 all-time in ACC Tournament play. The Seminoles are now 5-14 all-time in ACC Tournament games played in Greensboro.
- With Tuesday’s result, the teams split the season series. Florida State won the lone regular-season meeting 75-64 in Tallahassee on Jan. 7.
- Florida State had defeated Georgia Tech in 16 of the previous 21 meetings in the series prior to Tuesday. FSU now holds a 45-33 advantage all time.
- The Yellow Jackets are 2-1 against the Seminoles in the ACC Tournament. FSU won 63-62 in Charlotte on March 9, 2000 and lost to the Yellow Jackets 80-75 in the 2021 ACC Championship Game in Greensboro.
- Georgia Tech now holds a 3-2 edge in overall conference tournament action against the Seminoles. The programs split a pair of postseason meetings when both were members of the Metro Conference (1977 and 1978).
- The No. 13 ACC Tournament seed is now 4-6 versus the No. 12 seed in ACC Tournament first-round games.