ATLANTA (Interstat) — A surging Georgia Tech looks to continue its strong start to conference play when it hosts a Syracuse team seeking its first Atlantic Coast Conference win on Tuesday night at Hank McCamish Pavilion.

The Yellow Jackets (10-5, 1-1 ACC) are coming off a 65-53 home victory over Boston College last Saturday, a defensive performance that followed a narrow road loss to then-Duke. Georgia Tech has won seven of its last nine games, with its success heavily fueled by the all-around play of guard Lamar Washington.

Washington is averaging 13.6 points and 8.2 assists over his last five games, including a 17-point, 12-rebound, five-assist effort against Boston College. His playmaking will be central against Syracuse’s defense.

The Orange (8-5, 0-1) enter having dropped a heartbreaker in their ACC opener, falling 64-61 to Clemson on Dec. 31. Syracuse has lost three of its last five, though all defeats were by six points or fewer.

Forward Donnie Freeman, who scored 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds in the loss to Clemson, is Syracuse’s key interior presence. Guard Naithan George, who had 10 points and six assists against the Tigers, will be tasked with handling Georgia Tech’s backcourt pressure.

This matchup pits Georgia Tech’s recent momentum against a Syracuse squad familiar with close games. The Yellow Jackets have been strong at home, going 8-2 at McCamish Pavilion this season. Syracuse, however, has yet to win a true road game, with all five losses coming away from home, including neutral-site defeats to Iowa State, Kansas and Houston in November.

Tuesday’s contest is the first of two regular-season meetings. The teams will meet again in Syracuse on Feb. 25.

Following this game, Georgia Tech travels to face Miami on Saturday. Syracuse continues its road swing at Pittsburgh on Jan. 10.

Tip-off is scheduled for 9 p.m. EST.