ATLANTA (Interstat) — In a game defined by defensive pressure and critical second-half execution, the California Golden Bears secured a pivotal road victory, defeating the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 76-65 in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game Wednesday night at Hank McCamish Pavilion.

The win, California’s third straight, improved its record to 21-8 overall. Georgia Tech, struggling through a difficult Atlantic Coast Conference campaign, fell to 11-19.

The most important part of the game unfolded in the second half, where California transformed a four-point halftime deficit into a comfortable win. After trailing 36-32 at the break, the Golden Bears outscored the Yellow Jackets 44-29 over the final 20 minutes. The turnaround was fueled by a stifling defensive effort that forced Georgia Tech into 17 total turnovers, which California converted into 18 points. Conversely, the Golden Bears committed only nine turnovers.

California guard Dai Dai Ames, a sophomore from Chicago, spearheaded the second-half surge. He scored 12 of his team-high 18 points after halftime, including a crucial 3-pointer and a driving layup during a decisive stretch that expanded California’s lead. Ames finished with 18 points and three assists in 31 minutes.

The Golden Bears’ interior presence was equally vital. Center Lee Dort, a 6-foot-10 sophomore from Dallas, dominated the paint with 16 points, two blocks and several key defensive rebounds. His physical play helped limit Georgia Tech’s second-chance opportunities, as the Yellow Jackets managed only three offensive rebounds all game.

Georgia Tech started strong, fueled by the hot shooting of Kowacie Reeves. The junior from Macon, Georgia, scored 19 points, including five 3-pointers, with 15 of those points coming in a first-half explosion that gave the home team an early 13-point lead. However, California’s defense adjusted, holding Reeves to just four points in the second half and limiting him to 6-of-15 shooting overall.

The Yellow Jackets’ offense, which shot just 39.2% from the field, became stagnant as the game progressed. While Lamar Washington dished out 10 assists, he was harassed into six turnovers. Akai Fleming added 16 points for Georgia Tech, but the team’s offensive rating of 85.1 points per 100 possessions underscored its struggles against California’s active defense, which recorded nine steals and four blocks.

California, while not shooting efficiently overall at 43.8%, made key plays when needed. Forward John Camden provided 12 points and critical defensive work, and a timely 3-pointer from reserve guard Semetri Carr in the second half helped stem any potential Georgia Tech rally. The Golden Bears also capitalized at the free-throw line, making 15 of 21 attempts compared to Georgia Tech’s 19 of 24.

The victory continued a positive late-season trend for California, which has now won seven of its last nine games. The Golden Bears also completed a regular-season sweep of Georgia Tech, having won a 90-85 contest in Berkeley on Feb. 4.

Georgia Tech, which has lost five of its last six, was hampered by poor ball movement, tallying only five assists as a team. The Yellow Jackets’ inability to sustain their early offensive rhythm against California’s persistent defense proved to be the difference.

A crowd of 4,124 watched as California methodically took control after halftime, using its defensive intensity to generate offensive opportunities and pull away for a double-digit conference win on the road.

California next travels to face Wake Forest on Saturday. Georgia Tech will visit Clemson, also on Saturday.