No. 13 Clemson beats Georgia Tech 81-73

Georgia Tech forward Alade Aminu (44) is defended by Clemson center Trevor Booker, right, during the first half of their NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Amis)

By: By GEORGE HENRY Associated Press Writer | SCNow
Published: February 22, 2009

ATLANTA (AP) — Trevor Booker had 21 points and 12 rebounds to lead No. 13 Clemson, which overcame a 15-point deficit in an 81-73 victory over Georgia Tech on Sunday.

The Tigers (22-4, 8-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) have won six of eight and improved to 9-0 this season when Booker has a double-double.

Georgia Tech (10-16, 1-12) has lost 11 of 12 to remain in the ACC cellar, three losses behind 11th-place Virginia.

K.C. Rivers, who had 19 points for Clemson, gave his team the lead for good with a 3-pointer in the opening minute of the second half. Freshman Andre Young finished with 12 points, going 4-for-4 on 3-pointers.

The Tigers are 17-1 when outrebounding opponents this season and 32-4 over the last two. Clemson's four ACC road wins are its most since 1996-97.

Lewis Clinch had a career-high 27 points for the Yellow Jackets, who got within 46-45 on his 3 with 14:32 remaining.

Sweeping the season series with Georgia Tech for the first time since 2005-06 and for the second time in 12 years, Clemson led 75-65 with 1:50 remaining on Booker's rebound dunk. The play brought loud cheers from the approximately 1,500 Clemson fans at Alexander Memorial Coliseum.

Georgia Tech had won nine of 11 home games against the Tigers and 20 of 26.

Clemson, which returned to the NCAA tournament last March for the first time in nine years, is a combined 46-14 the last two seasons, 18-10 in the ACC.

No. 13 CLEMSON 81, GEORGIA TECH 73
FG FT Reb
CLEMSON Min M-A M-A O-T A PF PTS
Booker 34 7-9 7-9 7-12 1 3 21
Sykes 26 2-4 2-3 1-4 0 3 6
Rivers 33 8-12 0-0 0-5 0 1 19
Stitt 23 2-5 4-5 0-0 7 3 9
Oglesby 21 1-7 2-2 1-2 2 2 5
Smith 16 0-3 0-0 1-3 3 0 0
Young 17 4-5 0-0 0-0 2 1 12
Potter 18 3-5 0-2 0-2 0 2 9
Grant 12 0-3 0-0 1-2 1 4 0
Totals 200 27-53 15-21 13-32 16 19 81

Percentages: FG .509, FT .714.

3-Point Goals: 12-23, .522 (Young 4-4, Potter 3-4, Rivers 3-5, Stitt 1-3, Oglesby 1-5, Smith 0-2).

Team Rebounds: 2.

Blocked Shots: 2 (Sykes, Rivers).

Turnovers: 18 (Potter 5, Sykes 3, Smith 3, Young 2, Rivers 2, Booker, Grant, Stitt).

Steals: 7 (Booker 2, Rivers 2, Grant, Stitt, Potter).

Technical Fouls: None.

FG FT Reb
GEORGIA TECH Min M-A M-A O-T A PF PTS
Lawal 30 3-8 5-7 4-9 1 4 11
Peacock 19 2-2 0-0 2-3 0 2 4
Clinch 37 10-16 1-3 1-4 3 0 27
Shumpert 28 2-7 0-2 2-4 5 4 4
Foreman 17 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 2 0
Miller 24 3-8 5-9 1-1 5 4 11
Storrs 14 0-2 0-0 0-0 1 2 0
Sheehan 3 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Aminu 28 7-10 2-2 1-6 1 1 16
Totals 200 27-53 13-23 12-28 16 19 73