GAME NOTES: The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and Rider Broncs will meet up in a consolation matchup of the Orlando Classic, as the teams square off at HP Field House on Friday evening.

Tech went 3-0 for the third straight season under Brian Gregory, but was unable to make it four wins in a row, as the Yellow Jackets fell by a mere two points to Marquette in tournament play on Thursday, 72-70. The Yellow Jackets opened the year with three games at home, topping Georgia (80-73), Alabama A&M (66-46) and IPFW (78-69).

Kevin Baggett's Broncs were once again no match for a Top-25 team, as they were handled by the Michigan State Spartans in Thursday's action of this event, 77-45. The loss comes on the heels of an 87-60 setback at Kansas prior to tournament play. With the loss to the Spartans, Rider has dipped under .500 on the season at 2-3.

Rider has won both prior matchups in this series, although this is the first meeting since 1933.

Rider was simply no match for Michigan State's stout defensive play, as the Broncs were held to their lowest scoring output in two seasons. The Broncs scored just 11 first-half points and were an ugly 4-of-29 from the floor over the first 20 minutes. Matt Lopez was the only player to notch double digits in points for Rider, finishing with 14 points in the lopsided loss. The remainder of the roster could only muster 31 points combined.

A lack of scoring depth has been a weakness for a Rider team that averages a modest 62.8 ppg this year. Teddy Okereafor leads the way in scoring for Rider at 14.2 ppg. Zedric Sadler is next in line at 10.4 ppg, but no other player on the roster is putting up more than 8.4 ppg.

The Yellow Jackets have been solid at both ends of the floor this season, but the team's real strength is its ability to rebound. The team is averaging 42.5 rebounds per game, including 16.3 at the offensive end. The team has scoring depth as well led by Quinton Stephens' 12.3 ppg. Marcus Georges-Hunt is second on the team with 11.5 ppg, followed closely by Demarco Cox and Charles Mitchell, who net 11.3 ppg each.

The Yellow Jackets held tough all game long, but just couldn't get over the hump down the stretch, dropping a two-point decision to the Golden Eagles on Thursday and falling into the consolation round as a result. It was a solid performance considering that Marquette's Matt Carlino went off for 38 points. Tadric Jackson led the way for Tech in defeat with 17 points. Georges-Hunt added 14 points, but Stephens, the team's leading scorer, struggled a bit, going just 3-of-11 from the floor and finishing with just seven points. Georgia Tech shot a decent .444 from the floor overall, but that number was actually hampered by a less-than-impressive 7-of-24 showing from behind the arc (.292).

Rider hasn't had the easiest schedule early on and it doesn't get any better here. Georgia Tech should be able to get back in the win column following the narrow loss to a good Marquette squad on Thursday.