Georgia Tech Men’s Basketball Hosts Jacksonville State in NIT First Round

ATLANTA, Ga. — Georgia Tech Men’s Basketball is set to host Jacksonville State for the first round of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) on March 18 at 7 p.m. at McCamish Pavilion. This marks the Yellow Jackets’ return to the postseason for the first time in four years, having earned a No. 4 seed in the Irvine Region of the 32-team tournament.

The Yellow Jackets (17-16, 10-10 ACC) concluded their regular season with a strong finish, winning six of their last eight games. They secured eighth place in the Atlantic Coast Conference, earning a first-round bye for the first time since 2021. Their recent victories include two against top-ranking teams, Louisville (77-70) and Clemson (89-86 in three overtimes).

In the ACC Tournament, Georgia Tech won its second-round matchup against Virginia (66-60) before falling to No. 1 Duke (78-70) in the quarterfinals. Head coach Damon Stoudamire emphasized the team’s determination and resilience: “We’ve overcome a lot this season, and this opportunity means everything for our players and our program.”

Jacksonville State enters the game with a record of 22-12, having tied for second place in Conference USA with a conference mark of 12-6. The Gamecocks advanced to the finals of their conference tournament but were defeated by Liberty, 79-67.

The looming matchup is particularly notable as this will be the first meeting between Georgia Tech and Jacksonville State in men’s basketball. The winner will advance to face the victor of the matchup between No. 1 seed UC Irvine (28-6) and Northern Colorado (25-9) in the second round, scheduled for either Saturday or Sunday.

This season, the Yellow Jackets have depended on the scoring prowess of senior guard Lance Terry, who averages 14.5 points per game, alongside standout sophomore players Baye Ndongo and Naithan George. Ndongo has averaged a double-double in conference play with 14.4 points and 10.2 rebounds, while George has led the team in assists with an average of 6.5 per game.

The game will be broadcast live on ESPN2 and can be streamed via the ESPN app. Radio coverage will be provided by the Georgia Tech Sports Network and flagship station 680 the Fan (680 AM/93.7 FM).

This participation in the NIT marks Georgia Tech’s 27th postseason appearance in its basketball history, and its 10th time competing in the NIT. In previous appearances, the Yellow Jackets finished as runners-up in 1971 and 2017. As the team looks to build upon its recent momentum, fans can expect a thrilling matchup against Jacksonville State.