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Men's basketball holds off California All-Stars By David Williams Optimistic about the season ATLANTA November 13, 1998
 The Georgia Tech men's basketball team took on the California All-Stars in an exhibition game Monday night at Alexander Memorial Coliseum. The game was the second and final exhibition on Tech's schedule as the team prepares for the regular season starting next week. The California All-Stars touring team is composed of former college players that are from the California area. Contrary to one rumor, Ed O'Bannon of UCLA fame did not play. Even so, what looked like a blowout by the Yellow Jackets soon turned into a game that gave even more support to Alexander's nickname, the "ThrillerDome."
Sizewise, the two teams matched up rather well at each position, neither team being very big. Cremins went with the same starting lineup of Floyd, Babul, Jones, Vines and Akins, and it looks like it will stay this way until Jason Collier becomes eligible in December. Tech jumped out to a 30-17 lead with 10:43 remaining off a spectacular display of shooting by Tony Akins. Akins had a 2-17 shooting night in the first exhibition but hit four threes in a row in the first ten minutes. Many of those were over the outstretched hands of guards four and five inches taller than him.
The Jacket offense featured four men on the perimeter with Jones in the middle. This left the guards open, and Jason Floyd began to capitalize on this towards the end of the half. Sparked by his own defense, he blocked two shots in a row. Floyd then hustled out on the break and made two three pointers from the left wing within 33 seconds to push the lead to 12.
California seemed to be fatigued and nonchalant, this being their eighth game in the last nine days. An old but still new face made an appearance for Tech with three minutes left in the first half as Kevin Kincaid (Milwaukee, WI) entered the game. Kincaid, 6-3 190 walked on two seasons ago, and played sparingly. After not playing last year, the junior is playing again and did a nice job snagging one rebound, dropping off one assist, making a steal, and taking a charge, all in the span of three minutes. Tech finished the half up by 17, 57-40. Floyd and Jon Babul both had 13 points, while Akins had 12 points, 6 assists, and two turnovers.
Then came the rain as Tech started out slow in the second half, making careless turnovers and playing lackluster defense. The lead was cut to 8 at the 12:30 mark. A symbol of the Tech collapse was displayed by Dion Glover as he limped across the court to join the Tech huddle when Cremins called a timeout to stop the momentum of the California team. Glover smiled knowing that usually he is the one jogging over to the bench rather than being on the outside looking in.
However, junior Jason Floyd took over the game. After California closed the lead to two with 6:10 left, Floyd canned a three to push the lead back to 5. The teams traded baskets with California coming out on top after an ill-advised three point attempt by Akins, which clanged off the side of the rim. However, Floyd sat and waited on an attempted crossover by Cali guard Ethan O'Bryant and ripped him for the steal. O'Bryant intentionally fouled Floyd on the layup and the junior made one of two free throws as Tech kept possession of the ball. Cali would not go away as they stuck close 83-83. Jon Babul then hit two free throws with 2:13 left to get the lead back. Then Floyd stuck the knife in the back, hitting a three pointer with 1:58 left as Tech hung on for a 94-89 win.
Leading scorers for the Jackets were Floyd, who finished with 25 points, and Job Babul, who had 21 points and 13 boards. Positive aspects of the game were Akins' hot shooting in the first half and 8 assists for the game. Alvin Jones went 4-14 for 12 points but he did snag 10 rebounds.
Negative points for the team were letting the lead slip away-something they can't afford to do against better competition. Also, the team has not really displayed a scrappy kind of defense that they need to be successful. This can be expected, though, as fatigue becomes a factor with their lack of depth.
Catch Tech in their first regular- season game of the year against Charleston Southern on November12 at the ThrillerDome. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
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Copyright © 1998 by Gregory S. Scherrer, Editor and by the Student Publications Board
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