Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt (front), Jeremis Smith (back) and B.J. Elder celebrate the team's victory over Virginia Tech to advance to the semifinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference tourney. Associated Press

Georgia Tech: Jackets boot Hokies

Georgia Tech 73, Virginia Tech 54

WASHINGTON - Will Bynum tried to suppress a sly smile, but the head nods gave it away.

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Virginia Tech's Coleman Collins tries to shoot over Georgia Tech's Anthony McHenry (left) and Luke Schenscher during the Yellow Jackets' victory in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals. Associated Press Georgia Tech center Luke Schenscher tries to shoot over Virginia Tech's Shawn Harris. Associated Press

Yes, Bynum half-admitted, Georgia Tech needed some postseason pressure to finally snap out of a two-month slump.

The Yellow Jackets opened the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament with a 73-54 blowout of Virginia Tech on Friday at MCI Center.

"I think everybody here, especially the seniors, knows it could end any day," Bynum said. "Everybody has that in mind, so everybody picked it up."

The win is the Jackets' second in a row, something they hadn't done since opening ACC play with a 2-0 record. And the 19-point margin of victory is their first decisive victory in two months.

Georgia Tech (18-10) hadn't beaten an opponent by more than eight points since hammering Virginia on Jan. 8.

B.J. Elder led all scorers with 19 points in Georgia Tech's win. The backcourt combo of Jarrett Jack and Will Bynum contributed 26 points - 13 from each.

The Jackets' also impressed defensively. Virginia Tech's 54 points equaled its second-lowest output of the season. The Hokies shot 37 percent, committed 18 turnovers and were outrebounded 37-27.

Leading scorer Zabian Dowdell scored six points, nine points below his season average. He went 1-for-7 from the floor.

"That's what we do," Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt said. "When we're playing well, we're defending and rebounding well."

Good play came from many sources for the Yellow Jackets. Four starters spent the first half in foul trouble, with Jack picking up two fouls in the first three minutes. Bynum, Luke Schenscher and Anthony McHenry soon followed.

The Jackets' bench players responded, though, contributing 20 points and 21 rebounds. Anthony Morrow led with eight points, while post players Ra'Sean Dickey - who played a season-high 23 minutes - and Jeremis Smith grabbed seven rebounds each.

Mario West, who subbed in to play defense for Jack and Bynum at every opportunity for most of the game, recorded six more rebounds.

"It's a big confidence boost for our entire team, knowing that everyone came in and played well," Jack said. "Everybody came in and played with the same kind of intensity level."

The game likely sealed the NCAA Tournament fates for both teams. Georgia Tech, a team most bracket projections already included, is almost certainly in the 65-team field after the victory while Virginia Tech is likely headed to the National Invitation Tournament.

The Yellow Jackets advance to a 1:30 p.m. semifinal against top-seeded North Carolina today. North Carolina defeated Clemson 88-81 earlier Friday, rallying from a 13-point deficit in the final 9 minutes.

The Yellow Jackets get a chance to better their NCAA seeding today against the Tar Heels. The two teams met once this year, with the Tar Heels hammering the Jackets, 91-69 on Jan. 12.

Elder missed the first meeting, though, sidelined by a hamstring injury.

"We're just happy to still be playing in the ACC Tournament," Hewitt said. "We don't care who's on the other side of the bracket."

Reach Adam Van Brimmer at (404) 589-8424 or adam.vanbrimmer@morris.com.

--From the Saturday, March 12, 2005 printed edition of the Augusta Chronicle