In about 90 seconds of game time, Usher provided three points, a defensive rebound and a steal along with contributing to a second Tar Heels turnover, setting two screens for a basket and hustling to get in position for a put-back. He launched a 3-pointer from perhaps three feet beyond the arc that rattled home. After the steal, Smith led the break for the Jackets and found Usher trailing. On the next Tar Heels possession, he was switched onto Davis, who tried to take Usher baseline, but Usher’s positioning helped force a turnover on an attempted bounce pass to Bacot. On Tech’s ensuing possession, Usher, on the right wing in his role as the point center, first screened Davis to get guard Deivon Smith open to receive a pass and then screened him again (possibly illegally) to get Smith open for a successful jump shot from the elbow. Davis air-balled, Usher was under the basket for the rebound. On the next trip on defense, Usher switched onto Tar Heels guard Caleb Love, who had an angle on Usher from the left wing and tried to drive to the basket, but Usher’s lateral quickness enabled him to cut off his path, and Love passed to the opposite corner. Despite having to get up off the floor and being the second-to-last player up the floor, Usher hustled to be in position for the rebound when guard Michael Devoe’s reverse layup missed. With guard Tristan Maxwell double-teaming, Usher stripped the ball out of Bacot’s hands from behind and went to the floor to recover it for a steal and start a fast break. At about the 15:25 mark of the first half, Usher was guarding 6-foot-10 forward Armando Bacot – a consequence of the Jackets going small is Usher guarding the opposition’s post players – when Bacot received a pass down low.īacot had inside position as well as three inches and 20 pounds on Usher, but Usher surrendered nothing. And while Usher hasn’t been especially keen on defending players taller and bigger than he is, the role has shined a light on his versatility and skill, along with the effort and competitiveness that caught Davis’ notice, even as the Jackets have lost eight of their past 10 games, two to the Tar Heels.Įven a slice of Saturday’s game, an 88-65 loss to the Tar Heels, gave an indicative sample. Howard practiced full speed Monday, and Pastner was hopeful that, if he practiced pain-free Tuesday, he would be able to return to action for the Jackets’ home game Wednesday against Wake Forest. Usher’s move from forward to center was precipitated by center Rodney Howard’s ankle injury sustained against Georgia State on Dec. Even though it’s very tough to play against him, it’s really nice to be able to see that out on the floor, and I think he’s an unbelievable player.” Explore Shot selection compromising Tech’s efforts “He’s always playing as hard as he can and, just the way he plays, just seems like he just loves to compete and he loves basketball. “He competes on both ends of the floor, and he never takes a play off,” said Davis, nine years an assistant to coach Roy Williams before succeeding him this season. The Panthers shot just 28% overall, but they used 12 steals to help them score 18 points off 23 turnovers by the Yellow Jackets.Davis went further, saying he at once loved and hated to watch him play, the former because he appreciated Usher’s effort, and the latter because it was coming at his team’s expense. Kane Williams scored 13 on 2-of-11 shooting. The Yellow Jackets dominated on the glass, outrebounding the Panthers 51-33, but managed only four second-chance points.Ĭorey Allen topped Georgia State (6-5) with 15 points, but he made just 5 of 17 shots. ![]() Kyle Sturdivant pitched in with 12 points and seven rebounds, while Moore scored 11 with six boards. He added 11 rebounds for his third double-double of the season. Usher sank 8 of 14 shots, including 5 of 6 from 3-point range, and 9 of 10 foul shots. Usher hit 1 of 2 free throws then sandwiched two 3-pointers around two free throws by Khalid Moore as the Yellow Jackets (6-5) opened the extra period on a 9-0 run and never looked back. Usher made two free throws with 10 seconds remaining in regulation to send the game to OT tied at 59. ATLANTA (AP) - Jordan Usher scored nine of his career-high 30 points in overtime to spark Georgia Tech to a 72-62 victory over Georgia State on Tuesday night.
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