Dec. 28, 2025: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (8-3) vs Boston College Eagles (7-3) at Silvio O. Conte Forum, Chestnut Hill, MA
WCNN The Fan (680 AM, 93.7 FM), Atlanta, GA (excerpts from game coverage)
• We’re coming to you tonight from Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts to bring you Georgia Tech’s opening ACC game against the Boston College Eagles. Both teams had 3 losses during pre-conference play, but Tech had the more challenging schedule. The Eagles are led by their high scoring SG James Lilly, who averaged 18.5 ppg. But BC has to handle a Tech team that has 5 players averaging in double figures. There’s a lot of Eagles fans at Conte Forum tonight, so the Yellow Jackets need to sting early and hard to quiet the crowd.
• The tip is controlled by the Eagles. Lofton passes to Lilly in the forecourt. Lilly dribbles to his right around the head of the key. He fires a pass inside to Caldwell who drives to the basket and sneaks up a finger roll that floats through the hoop. BC draws first blood.
• Robertson gets the ball over the line and dribbles to the top of the key. He feeds the ball to Carroll on the the right side. Carroll shoots a quick pass to Elloie who hits a nice 14 foot jumper to tie it at 2-2.
• The pass goes inside to Carroll on the right side of the key. He turns and forced up a shot that’s no good, but he was fouled by the Eagles’ Jason Caldwell. That’s 2 on Caldwell who goes to the bench with 15 minutes left in the first half. Carroll makes the first and now the 2nd shot making it 12-9 in favor of the Yellow Jackets.
• The refs are calling them close tonight. That’s two on Carroll and he will join Mann on the Tech bench. Witt’s shot went in and out. He’ll goes to the line for 2 shots. He sinks both free throws. The Eagles now trail 17-14 at the 12:48 mark.
• Gooden’s shot if off the mark, but Lofton picks up the foul...that’s 2 on him. Aura replaces him with Ray at the point. With 6:49 before the half ends, Gooden calmly drops both thots in making it 28-24 in favor of Tech.
• Mann called for the charge. That’s 3 on him and the Tech bench is yowling.
• Now it’s BC that has a player with 3 fouls. Caldwell will return to the Eagles’ bench. Byrd’s 2 free throws making it 30-24 with 5-1/2 minutes to go in the first half.
• Yet another foul called against Boston College. Coach Aura is really working the refs now. The Yellow Jackets drop two more foul shots in giving them a 41-30 lead with 44 seconds on the clock. They’ve been making most of their points on free throws in the last several minutes.
• The buzzer sounds ending the first half with Georgia Tech on top 41-32. Reserve C Ryan Gooden leads the scoring for the Yellow Jackets with 10 points. And as expected, the top scorer for BC is SG James Lilly with 9 points.
• The possession arrow gives the ball to Tech to start the 2nd half. They work the ball around outside but throw it away. They argue that the Eagles touched the ball last but the refs aren’t buying it.
• Lilly drives down the key taking Cooper with him. Lilly’s shot is slapped away but the refs whistle saying Cooper got his arm. Lilly goes to the line for 2 shots. The first one is good, So is the 2nd cutting Tech’s lead to 44-37. Lilly has all 5 of BC’s points in this half.
• Tough luck for the Eagles. That foul is called on Lilly and he will go to the bench with his 3rd foul with 18:23 to go. Aura is pacing back and forth in front of the Eagles’ bench. His two top scorers, Lilly and Caldwell, have 3 fouls apiece.
• Carroll dribbles across the key, turns and puts up a fall-away jumper. It’s good giving the Yellow Jackets a 53-40 lead with 15 minutes remaining.
• Carroll receives the pass and works his way in toward the hoop and rolls in a layup increasing the lead to 64-46. The Yellow Jackets defense making it tough for the Eagles to score.
• Goodens’ 8 foot jumper gives Georgia Tech a 21 point lead with 7 minutes remaining.
• Kings long 3 with 8 seconds left makes it 92-76. That’s to be the final score as Tech dribbles out the remaining seconds for the win.
• The Yellow Jackets had 5 players scoring in double figures led by C Ryan Gooden’s 22 points. Gooden hit 12 of 12 free throws. Scoring in double figures for Boston College were SG James Lilly with 27, SF/PF Marvin Reese had 15, and C Jason Caldwell hit for 10.