Jackets dominate Wolverines

ATLANTA - It's got to be the banner.

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Georgia Tech hung its 2004 Final Four flag in Alexander Memorial Coliseum before Tuesday's game against Michigan.

Then the Yellow Jackets played like a team that could get back to college basketball's promised land.

The Jackets overwhelmed Michigan, building a 25-point lead in the first half on their way to a 99-68 victory in an ACC-Big 10 Challenge game.

Georgia Tech improved to 4-0 and looked like a top-five team for the first time this season. Tuesday's performance came one day after the Jackets slipped from No. 3 to No. 4 in both The Associated Press and coaches polls.

Guard B.J. Elder led four players in double figures with 27 points - 18 coming before halftime. Elder tied a career-high with seven 3-pointers.

Teammate Jarrett Jack added 16 points to go with 11 assists and didn't commit a turnover. Will Bynum finished with 19 points for the Yellow Jackets, while center Luke Schenscher added 10 points and nine rebounds.

Courtney Sims led Michigan with 17 points.

As good as the Jackets were offensively - they scored 59 points in the first half - they were dynamic on the defensive end. They forced 18 Michigan turnovers and held a 40-32 rebounding advantage.

The Wolverines (3-3) couldn't get the ball up court against Georgia Tech's pressure for much of the first half. Jack had four steals in the opening 20 minutes, and the Yellow Jackets scored 13 points off turnovers, many of those in transition.

"The one thing I was confident in all season was our defensive effort," Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt said. "Once you shoot it well, it raises your game to a whole other level."

The Wolverines' defense certainly failed to stop the Yellow Jackets. They opened the game in man-to-man but couldn't prevent Jack and Bynum from penetrating. Michigan's backcourt tandem of Daniel Horton and Dion Harris each picked up three fouls in the opening 10 minutes.

Once Michigan went to a zone, Georgia Tech turned to the 3-point shot. The Jackets came into the game shooting 28 percent from behind the arc, but they made 13 of 23 against the Wolverines.

"Every defense we tried they seemed to have an answer for," Michigan coach Tommy Amaker said. "They shot the ball extremely well. They shot it well from 3-point range, and they got layups. It became a track meet, and that was it for us."

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