Georgia Tech Tallies Upset Over Clemson

Georgia Tech Coach Paul Hewitt sat down at the dais with the confidence of a man whose team was fresh off an outstanding season and headed toward a sure-fire NCAA berth.

Sure, in reality the twelfth-seeded Yellow Jackets entered Thursday seven games under .500 and without anything other than a prayer of extending its postseason beyond this weekend. But you couldn't tell based on Hewitt's responses.

"They've played that way the whole year," Hewitt said, moments after Georgia Tech knocked off fifth-seeded Clemson, 86-81, in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

According to Hewitt, the Yellow Jackets have handled pressure "very well" all year. And guard Lewis Clinch has been "very consistent" all year. And Georgia Tech's defense has played "good" defense all year.

The team's 12-18 record? Proof only that the score at the end of the game matters, apparently.

One thing that was certain was that the Yellow Jackets performed well in most phases of the game Thursday afternoon. Georgia Tech shot 55.7 percent from the field and out-rebounded Clemson, 38-30. Clinch led the way with 32 points.

"It's nothing that we haven't expected," Clinch said. "It's really about us going out and executing."

His coach nodded in agreement.