Jackets topple No. 11 Eagles

ATLANTA - All Anthony Morrow wanted out of Georgia Tech teammate Jeremis Smith was a smile.

So Morrow jumped on Smith's back and applied a mock headlock after Sunday's 60-58 victory over No. 11 Boston College. He wasn't about to let Smith, who scolded teammates for celebrating last week's win against Vanderbilt, put a damper on the victory at Alexander Memorial Coliseum.

"He's a pretty serious guy," Morrow said of Smith. "We call him little coach Hewitt. He's pretty intense."

Smith was all smiles after leading Georgia Tech with 16 points and nine rebounds. Morrow added 15 points as the Yellow Jackets improved to 8-4 overall, 2-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, after a shaky start to the season.

The victory is the Jackets' first over a ranked team this year and arguably its biggest upset since winning at No. 3 Duke two years ago.

Smith downplayed the win in postgame interviews, of course.

"We've lost a couple of games in non-conference play we shouldn't have lost," Smith said, "and now it's time to redeem ourselves and to stay at the top of the ACC in order to get an NCAA bid."

The Jackets played like tournament contenders Sunday. They shut down Boston College's perimeter game, allowing the Eagles (11-3, 0-2) just five baskets outside the lane.

Craig Smith and Jared Dudley scored 26 and 14 points respectively for the Eagles, but Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt was satisfied with his team's defense on the duo.

"I think we did a pretty good job of making Craig (Smith) work," Hewitt said. "You can look at the stat sheet and see he made 10 of 13 shots, but he got maybe two buckets where there were breakdowns defensively. That was a hard-earned 10-for-13."

Georgia Tech got key 3-pointers from Lewis Clinch and Zam Fredrick in the last four minutes.

Fredrick's was from the left wing and put Georgia Tech ahead for good at 58-55 with 33 seconds left.

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