St. Louis ? In what has turned into a game of runs, the Jayhawks lost to the Yellow Jackets, 79-71, in overtime Sunday in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. Georgia Tech advances to the Final Four on Saturday in San Antonio, Texas, to face Oklahoma State.
Jarrett Jack opened the game with an old-fashioned three-point play, and Georgia Tech opened an 13-6 lead with just more than 12 minutes left as KU missed 11 of its first 12 shots.
KU tied the game with a 7-0 run, highlighted by a three-pointer by J.R. Giddens, but Georgia Tech scored the next 11 points.
The Jayhawks then scored seven straight points and 11 of the next 14, drawing within two points, 26-24, with five minutes left. The Yellow Jackets responded with a 5-0 spurt, but the Jayhawks then scored seven of the next eight points, closing to within a point, 32-31, with less than two minutes left.
Georgia Tech scored the final four points of the half on a pair of free throws by Jack and a layup by Will Bynum and led 36-31 at intermission.
The teams played close for the first few minutes of the second half, but KU took its first lead of the game, 43-42, on an inside basket by Wayne Simien with 13:04 left that extended KU’s scoring run to 8-0.
Georgia Tech answered with a 5-0 spurt, but Kansas took a one-point lead, 48-47, on another basket by Simien. The Yellow Jackets then scored four straight points and held on to the lead until the Jayhawks tied the game at 58-all with just more than five minutes left.
The Yellow Jackets regained the lead with a short run, taking a 65-58 lead with less than four minutes left.
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Keith Langford stole the ball and scored on a layup while being fouled. He hit the ensuing free throw, bringing KU within four points, 65-61, with three minutes remaining.
The Jayhawks missed two chances in close while trailing by four points, one on a missed shot and one on a charging foul on Aaron Miles.
Langford scored after another defensive stop, drawing KU within two points, and Miles scored on the next possession but KU turned the ball over back to Georgia Tech.
Jack missed the second half of a 1-and-1, giving KU a chance with less than 40 seconds left. Simien missed a turnaround jumper, but Jeff Graves grabbed the rebound and J.R. Giddens took adavantage of the second chance, hitting a deep three-pointer and tying the game at 66-all.
Georgia Tech had two chances down low in the final five seconds, but couldn’t convert.
Kansas won the tip at the start of the extra period, and Langford gave KU a 68-66 lead with a pair of free throws. Jack tied the game, and then both teams missed shots. On KU’s next possession, Langford was called for pushing off and fouled out.
Isma’il Muhammed hit a free throw on the next possession and missed the second, but Jack grabbed the long rebound, keeping the ball with the Yellow Jackets. Jack then hit two free throws, giving Georgia Tech a three-point lead, 71-68.
Giddens missed a three-pointer, but the Yellow Jackets turned the ball over. Lee hit a free throw and missed the second, but Graves rebounded and passed to Lee who hit a layup, tying the game at 71-71.
Bynum put Georgia Tech back up on a three-pointer from the top of the arc with just less than two minutes left. Lee then missed a three-pointer and fouled out on the other end, sending Jack to the foul line.
Jack hit both free throws, giving Georgia Tech a 76-71 lead, and Kansas turned the ball over on the ensuing possession. The Yellow Jackets hit three free throws down the stretch, holding on for the victory.
Langford scored 15 points before fouling out, and Miles had 11 points, four rebounds, and four assists. J.R. Giddens had 15 points and five rebounds, David Padgett had four points and three boards, and Graves had four points and six rebounds.
Wayne Simien had 11 points and 10 rebounds, and Michael Lee had 11 points and five boards before fouling out.
Jack has 29 points and four rebounds for Georgia Tech, Luke Schenscher had 15 points and four boards, and Isma’il Muhammad scored eight points and grabbed five rebounds.
Clarence Moore had 14 points, Bynum scored eight points, and Anthony McHenry had four points. Marvin Lewis hit a late free throw.
B.J. Elder played just a few minutes for Georgia Tech, sitting out much of the game with an injured ankle.
The Jayhawks were 26-of-67 shooting, including 6-of-20 from long distance, from the field and 13-of-19 shooting from the foul line.
The Yellow Jackets were 25-of-55 shooting from the field, including 3-of-16 from three-point range, and 26-of-34 shooting from the charity stripe.
All stats are unofficial.
