ATLANTA — In a commanding performance, Georgia Tech kicked off its season with an impressive 85-62 victory over West Georgia on Wednesday evening.

Javian McCollum, a senior who transferred from Oklahoma, led the Yellow Jackets with 18 points, executing a strong shooting performance that included making 7 of his 12 attempts from the floor and sinking three of the team’s seven three-pointers.

Kowacie Reeves Jr. contributed significantly with 15 points, finishing 6-of-13 shooting overall. Baye Ndongo also made his mark with a solid stat line, scoring 10 points while pulling down seven rebounds and dishing out four assists. Additionally, Colorado transfer Luke O’Brien tallied up 10 rebounds alongside eight points, helping Georgia Tech secure a dominating rebound advantage of 49-25 over their opponents.

For West Georgia, the team struggled to find its rhythm, with Shelton Williams-Dryden leading the scoring effort with 13 points, while Kolten Griffin chipped in 11.

Georgia Tech maintained control throughout the game, never falling behind. They concluded the first half with a robust 17-9 run, establishing a solid 50-29 lead at the break. During this stretch, Terry connected on a three-pointer, highlighting a collaborative effort in scoring as five players got involved. The Yellow Jackets shot an impressive 57% in the first half, converting 21 of 37 attempts.

The second half saw Reeves unleash a turnaround jumper, followed by dunks from Ndongo and Duncan Powell, which inflated the Yellow Jackets’ lead to 69-39 with just over 12 minutes remaining.

This marks the beginning of Coach Damon Stoudamire’s second season at the helm for Georgia Tech, who concluded last season with a 14-18 record. The team is set to play seven consecutive home games, marking their longest home stretch since the 1980-81 season.

West Georgia is also making headlines as it embarks on its inaugural season at the Division I level.