Newton Citizen

Both Georgia Tech basketball teams return to their temporary home after road trips this past weekend. The women stayed unbeaten at 3-0 with a 74-63 victory over Marquette, thanks to an excellent night by guards Tyaunna Marshall and Metra Walthour. Marshall, a sophomore, had 19 points and six assists while Walthour added 18 points and five assists.

Tech trailed briefly on two occasions in the first half, but the final 20 minutes belonged to the visitors. In the first-ever meeting between the schools, the Yellow Jackets took a lead as large as 14 points on Walthour’s three-pointer with 13:04 to play. The women return home to the Arena at Gwinnett Center to play Kennesaw State tonight at 7:00 p.m.

The men’s team had an up and down stay at the Charleston Classic, going 1-2 to finish sixth. After a 66-53 loss to St. Josephs in the tournament opener (despite 20 points from Mfon Udofia), the Yellow Jackets bounced back with a 73-60 win over VCU, a final four participant last season. In the win over the Rams, Glen Rice Jr., who was suspended for the first three games for violating team rules, finally got on the court and scored 19 points, 15 in the second half, while Brandon Reed chipped in with 13 points.

“I was pretty happy because players don't like to sit out," Rice said afterwards. "I was a little nervous in the beginning, but thanks to my team, they helped me get back in it."

Tech dropped the fifth place game to LSU, 59-50. The Yellow Jackets took a brief lead at 43-41 on a field goal by Kammeon Holsey with 7:06 left in the game, and were within a point at 50-49 on Udofia’s three-pointer at the 3:15 mark, but the Tigers scored nine of the last 10 points to hang on.

Tech (3-2) and Siena will get together Wednesday at the Arena at Gwinnett Center with tip time scheduled for 7:00 p.m.