ATLANTA (Interstat) — Lamar Washington scored 23 points and Kowacie Reeves added 23 more as Georgia Tech pulled away in the second half to defeat Monmouth 79-67 in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday at Hank McCamish Pavilion.

The Yellow Jackets, who led by just a single point at halftime, outscored the Hawks 47-36 after the break to improve to 6-4. Monmouth fell to 5-5.

The most important part of the game was Georgia Tech’s decisive second-half surge, fueled by efficient offense and a parade to the free-throw line. After a tightly contested first half that ended with Georgia Tech ahead 32-31, the Yellow Jackets found their rhythm. They shot 48.1 percent from the floor for the game and, critically, made 21 of 26 free throws. Monmouth, by contrast, attempted only 15 free throws, making 10.

Washington, a 6-foot-4 guard from Portland, Oregon, was the catalyst, adding six assists to his game-high point total in 34 minutes. Reeves, a 6-6 guard from Macon, Georgia, provided a potent scoring complement and contributed two blocks. Their backcourt partnership overwhelmed Monmouth at key moments, with Washington orchestrating the offense and Reeves finishing plays.

Monmouth stayed competitive through persistent effort on the offensive glass, where it held a 14-8 advantage, leading to 15 second-chance points. The Hawks also forced 13 Georgia Tech turnovers, converting them into 13 points. But Monmouth’s own offensive struggles proved insurmountable. The Hawks shot just 34.2 percent from the field and 31.8 percent from three-point range.

Stefanos Spartalis led Monmouth with 14 points, while Justin Ray scored 13 and Cornelius Robinson added 11. Jack Collins, despite shooting 2 for 10, contributed five assists, five rebounds, three steals and a block in 39 minutes.

The game turned for good during a stretch early in the second half. With Georgia Tech leading 38-36, the Yellow Jackets embarked on a 13-3 run. The surge included a driving layup and a free throw from Reeves, a three-pointer from Chas Kelley and several trips to the line, pushing the lead to 51-39 with 11:26 remaining. Monmouth never got closer than eight points the rest of the way.

Georgia Tech’s interior defense was also a factor, blocking six shots, with Mouhamed Sylla and Cole Kirouac each recording two. Sylla, a 6-10 forward from Senegal, added 13 points and seven rebounds.

The Yellow Jackets’ offensive rating of 110.7 points per 100 possessions starkly outpaced Monmouth’s mark of 95.5, underlining the efficiency gap that decided the contest.

A crowd of 4,595 watched the game. Georgia Tech was a 10-point pregame favorite, and the total score of 146 fell just under the over/under line of 145.5.

Georgia Tech, which had lost three straight games entering Saturday, will look to build momentum when it hosts Marist on Tuesday. Monmouth, coming off a win over Princeton, continues its road swing at Fairfield on Sunday, Dec. 14.