Nov. 19, 2007

Notre Dame vs Georgia Tech Box Score

CHARLOTTE AMALIE, U.S. Virgin Islands – Matt Causey’s three-point jumper with two seconds remaining in regulation lifted the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets to a 70-69 victory over Notre Dame in the third-place game of the Paradise Jam. It was the second heartbreaking loss for the Irish in as many nights.

Junior guard Kyle McAlarney had a chance to win the game for the Irish but his two-pointer as time expired went in and out of the basket. McAlarney couldn’t have gotten a better look for the game’s final shot. Causey’s game-winning basket provided Georgia Tech (3-2) with its only lead during the entire evening.

Notre Dame (2-2) led by nine with (62-53) with 5:11 remaining in regulation on two free three throws by Zach Hillesland, but a three-pointer by Causey and two free throws by Jeremis Smith quickly cut the deficit to 62-58 with 4:03 remaining in the contest.

The Irish pushed the lead to six points (64-58) on two free throws by Rob Kurz, but Lew Clinch’s three-pointer with 2:27 pulled Geogia Tech to within three at 64-61. Hillesland, who finished with 12 points in the contest and was one of four Irish players in double figures, gave the Irish a 66-61 advantage with 1:33 remaining.

Georgia Tech, however, would outscore the Irish 9-3 down the stretch with all three Yellow Jacket baskets coming from beyond three-point range in the final 1:14 of the contest. Causey hit the first three-pointer with 1:14 remaining and then Lewis Clinch added the second with 46 seconds remaining to pull Georgia Tech within one (68-67).

Following Causey’s three-pointer, Tory Jackson had given Notre Dame a four-point lead (68-64) with 50 seconds remaining.

Jackson was fouled by D’Andre Bell with 18 seconds left and converted one of two free throws as Notre Dame held on to a 69-67 lead. For the second consecutive night, sophomore Luke Harangody matched his career-high with 22 points and garnered his first double-double of the season as he finished with 11 rebounds. Rob Kurz added 15 points and five rebounds and Jackson finished with 10 points.

Notre Dame turned the ball over an uncharacteristic 19 times in the contest and made just 22 field goals in the came compared to a 27-57 shooting performance by Georgia Tech. The Irish however, was 20-29 from the charity stripe.