Lairy scores 23, Miami beats Georgia Tech in season opener

ATLANTA — Mekhi Lairy made the go-ahead bucket with 12 seconds remaining and Miamiscored the game’s final nine points to defeat Georgia Tech 72-69 on Tuesday night in the season opener for both teams.

Georgia Tech, which last March won the ACC Tournament and made its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 11 years, struggled down the stretch, missing its last six shots.

An inside basket by Michael Devoe gave Georgia Tech a 69-63 lead with 2:29 to go but the Yellow Jackets would not score again. The loss adds to a string of early-season frustrations over the past several years when the Yellow Jackets lost to the likes of Grambling, Wofford and Gardner-Webb.

After a 3-pointer by Lairy gave the RedHawks a 48-45 lead, the Yellow Jackets ran off 10 points and would hold the lead until the final 12 seconds.

Lairy led the RedHawks with 23 points, Dae Dae Grant added 15, Dalonte Brown 12 and Precious Ayah 10.

Devoe scored 26 points, Jordan Usher 12 and Rodney Howard 10 for Georgia Tech.

Miami hosts Lamar at 2 p.m. Saturday in Millett Hall in its home opener.

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