Georgia Tech Dominates NC State, 87-62, Behind Career Games from Ndongo and George

Tech cruises past NC State, securing their sixth win in eight games and strengthening their ACC standing

Georgia Tech continued its late-season surge with a commanding 87-62 victory over NC State at McCamish Pavilion on Saturday. The Yellow Jackets (15-14, 9-9 ACC) have now won six of their last eight games and their last five ACC home contests, solidifying their place in the top half of the conference standings.

Early Control and First-Half Surge

NC State (11-18, 4-14 ACC) entered the game struggling, having yet to win a road game this season (0-11). The Wolfpack kept things close early before Tech took control with a 20-7 run in the final six minutes of the first half to take a 41-30 lead into the break. Sophomore big man Baye Ndongo dominated early, notching a first-half double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Nait George facilitated the offense brilliantly, dishing out eight first-half assists.

Highlight-Reel Plays Electrify Crowd

The McCamish Pavilion crowd erupted in the first half when Ndongo ignited a sequence of defense turning into offense. Around the five-minute mark, he blocked a shot and sprinted down the floor to catch a one-handed alley-oop from George. Just two minutes later, he threw down another electrifying alley-oop, this time off the glass while drawing a foul, both part of an 8-0 run.

NC State’s Efforts to Battle Back

NC State came into this season with high expectations, having been picked to finish eighth in the ACC after last year’s legendary postseason run, where they won the ACC Tournament and made the Final Four following a 17-14 regular season. However, their struggles have persisted this season, especially on the road.

The Wolfpack’s leading first-half scorer, Ben Middlebrooks, picked up his fourth foul early in the second half, forcing him to the bench. He later fouled out at the 5:50 mark, further hampering NC State’s comeback efforts. Though NC State cut an 18-point deficit to 10 with a 10-2 run midway through the second half, they were never able to get within single digits.

Tech Closes Strong

The Jackets put the game away with a dominant 13-0 run at the seven-minute mark, stretching the lead to 24 points. Ndongo continued his stellar night, finishing with a career-high 29 points and 17 rebounds, making him just the second Georgia Tech player in school history to post at least 29 points and 17 boards in a game. Per Kelly Quinlan, the only other Yellow Jacket to accomplish this feat was Moses Wright in a four-overtime thriller against Georgia State in 2020.

George also set a new career high with 12 assists, including his 10th on another spectacular alley-oop to Ndongo off an inbound pass around the 15-minute mark of the second half. The large lead allowed George to get some extra rest, playing just 34 minutes—his lowest total since December 28 against Alabama A&M. For most players, that would be a full night’s workload, but for George, it was practically a night off.

Balanced Contributions and Key Stats

Duncan Powell provided a strong inside presence, recording a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Lance Terry, who had been struggling from deep, found his shooting touch with three three-pointers and finished with 15 points. Jaeden Mustaf also made key contributions, adding 13 points, including a highlight steal and fast-break dunk.

Tech’s defensive effort was just as impressive, holding NC State to 38% shooting from the field. The Yellow Jackets controlled the glass, grabbing 14 offensive rebounds and converting them into 23 second-chance points. Their ability to take care of the ball was another key factor, committing just six turnovers while capitalizing on 12 NC State giveaways for 21 points.

Looking Ahead

The Jackets entered the game as 3.5-point favorites but dominated from start to finish. The bench erupted when walk-on Emmer Nichols drained a three-pointer in the closing moments, capping off a near-perfect performance from the home team.

With the win, Tech remains in eighth place in the ACC standings, just 1.5 games behind Stanford for the seventh spot.

Next up, Georgia Tech will look to keep its momentum going with another home game against Miami on Tuesday at 7 p.m.