CLEMSON, S.C. — Naithan George delivered an impressive performance with 28 points, while Baye Ndongo played a crucial role in Georgia Tech’s thrilling 89-86 victory over Clemson on Tuesday night. Ndongo came through in the clutch, scoring seven of his total 18 points in the intense triple-overtime match. He netted a pivotal hook shot that pushed Georgia Tech ahead 87-84 with 1:57 remaining on the clock. Clemson’s Chase Hunter narrowed the gap with a layup, but Ndongo answered back by sinking two free throws. Hunter’s attempt for a game-winning 3-pointer on the Tigers’ last possession fell short, sealing the victory for Georgia Tech.
This win marked Georgia Tech’s second consecutive victory, a feat they hadn’t accomplished since a three-game winning streak was interrupted by a loss to Syracuse on January 7. In this game, George demonstrated his scoring prowess, connecting on 12 of 26 shots from the field, while Ndongo secured a dominant 13 rebounds, leading his team in that category. Duncan Powell contributed significantly with 19 points for Georgia Tech (11-12, 5-7 ACC), and Lance Terry supported with a double-double, adding 12 points and 10 rebounds. Ibrahim Souare also made his presence felt with nine points and contributed to the team’s impressive 56 rebounds.
On the other side, Hunter led Clemson (18-5, 10-2) with a total of 28 points, though he struggled with his shooting, hitting just 9 of 24 attempts and going 4 of 12 from beyond the arc. Ian Schieffelin also stood out with 23 points to help the Tigers fight back in the contest. With just 39 seconds left in regulation, Powell hit a crucial 3-pointer, pulling Georgia Tech to within two points at 64-62. He then attempted another 3-point shot that ricocheted off the backboard, but he managed to follow his miss and score on a putback at the buzzer, forcing the game into overtime, tied at 64.
The first overtime was tense, as neither team was able to score during the final 2:27, resulting in a tie at 70. In the closing seconds of the second overtime, Souare threw down a dunk to tie the match again at 77-77, sending the game to an exhilarating triple overtime after Hunter missed another 3-pointer. In a previous encounter last season on January 16, 2024, Georgia Tech had orchestrated a dramatic comeback against Clemson, overcoming a nine-point deficit in the last 1:43 of regulation to win 93-90 in double-overtime.
Looking ahead to their next matchups, Georgia Tech will face off against Virginia, while Clemson will host the second-ranked Duke.
