ATLANTA — In a thrilling overtime clash, Baye Ndongo secured a dramatic victory for Georgia Tech, tipping in a final shot from Naithan George as the Yellow Jackets triumphed over California with a score of 90-88 on Saturday.
With 1:35 remaining in the extra period, Mady Sissoko’s dunk pushed the Golden Bears ahead 88-86. However, Ndongo responded with a jumper to level the score at 88 just 43 seconds later. As the clock wound down, George penetrated the lane for a challenging layup, which was contested by California’s Rytis Petraitis. In a crucial moment, Ndongo soared above defenders to tip in the rebound, clinching the game for Georgia Tech.
During regulation, Ndongo had previously tipped in a shot from George that was blocked by Sissoko, allowing the Yellow Jackets to take a 79-77 lead at the 54-second mark. California’s Andrej Stojakovic quickly equalized with a basket, ensuring the game would extend into overtime after Jeremiah Wilkinson missed a jumper in the closing seconds.
Baye Ndongo had an outstanding performance, notching a career-high of 26 points along with 13 rebounds. Naithan George also shined with 26 points and eight assists contributing significantly to Georgia Tech’s victory, while Duncan Powell added 19 points and six rebounds.
For California, Wilkinson was the standout player, hitting 4 of 7 from beyond the three-point line to total 25 points. Stojakovic matched his efforts from deep, finishing with 22 points. Additionally, Petraitis scored 12 points, and Sissoko made a solid impact with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
This matchup marked the first time the two teams faced each other in Atlanta, with California having won their previous three meetings, all held in California. Looking ahead, Georgia Tech is set to face Boston College, while California will take on Stanford on Saturday.
