Midway through the second half of Georgia Tech’s Tuesday home game against VCU, the Yellow Jackets were wobbling. A nine-point lead had shrunk to one in less than three minutes.
Tech fans saw this scenario play out repeatedly last season: The Jackets would go dry offensively, surrender the lead and rue the lost opportunity. However, with the lead back to three, guard Adam Smith stepped into the breach. Dribbling on the left wing, he waited for an opening, then darted into the lane for a basket to push the lead to 53-48.
After a stop on the next VCU possession, Smith slipped past Rams guard Doug Brooks and, then, as Brooks went for the steal from behind, Smith hit the brakes while protecting the ball.