Tech's Georges-Hunt enjoys Georgia basketball rivalry

ATLANTA -- Marcus Georges-Hunt admitted it. The Georgia Tech senior agreed there's something else about the idea of playing against -- and beating -- rival Georgia.

"Out of all the games on the schedule, this is a big one because of the rivalry," Georges-Hunt said. "I think it's going to be real fun."

Georges-Hunt has never lost to Georgia. Neither has coach Brian Gregory. They'll try to continue that streak today when the two teams meet at noon at Stegman Coliseum in Athens. Georgia Tech (7-2) has won its last three games and has won its last four meetings against the Bulldogs.

"That has no bearing on Saturday afternoon," Gregory said. "It's about whoever plays better during that 40 minutes. The past doesn't give us an advantage or a disadvantage."

Many of the players know each other. Georges-Hunt played on the same AAU team with Georgia star Kenny Gaines. Gregory recruited a handful of the players who are on the Georgia roster.

"There's always a little added value because of the rivalry," Gregory said. "The players know each other. The coaches know each other. Each of the (the last four) games have been great 40 minutes of basketball. Every game has been well played."

Georgia Tech's four-game winning streak in the series is the longest for either team since Georgia won seven straight in the 1980s. It is the longest streak for Georgia Tech since they beat Georgia in 1962-64.

"It's always real competitive," Georges-Hunt said. "You're trying to fight to get the win. It seems like it's more competitive than anything."

Last year the two teams met in the season opener, with Georgia Tech winning 80-73 at McCamish Pavilion. Quinton Stephens scored 22 and Charles Mitchell scored 20 in that game.

Georgia Tech is coming off perhaps its most impressive win of the season, a 77-64 victory over Virginia Commonwealth. Gregory said, "As the season progresses, that will grow into a better win." The Yellow Jackets scored 50 points in the second half and held the Rams to 32.4 percent shooting from the floor.

"As long as we control the defensive backboard, that aids our offense," he said. "The offense is more efficient when you're able to get defensive stops and rebounds. Put it together and it adds up to a 50-point second half."

Georgia Tech hopes to get backup point guard Travis Jorgenson back on Saturday. The sophomore missed the VCU game with a bad ankle and has been limited in practice.

"There's no question we need him back and healthy," Gregory said. "He's great at playing at the pace we want to play at and defensively he really helps us. He creates steals and deflections and turnovers."

A win would give Georgia Tech an 8-2 start for the second straight year and third time in four seasons

This story was originally published December 18, 2015 at 8:09 PM with the headline "Tech's Georges-Hunt enjoys Georgia basketball rivalry ."