This Day in ACC History: 27 Years Ago (Maryland & Georgia Tech)
In celebration of Grounghog’s Day, the Confidential is going to roll out another edition This Day in ACC History. Today, the time machine goes back to a game between the Maryland Terrapins and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on February 2, 1985, 27 years ago.
On February 2, 1985, Georgia Tech traveled to Maryland for a regular season game. 1984-1985 was a good year for both teams. Georgia Tech would go 9-5 in conference play, and ultimately lose in the Elite Eight to Georgetown. Maryland would go 8-6 in conference play, and lose in the Sweet 16 to Villanova. As you may recall, Villanova would shock the world with its defeat of Georgetown in the National Championship Game.
In the game in question, Georgia Tech got the huge road win over Maryland, 72-60. Maryland’s two leading scorers all season were Senior Adrian Branch and Junior Len Bias. Branch averaged 18.1 PPG, while Bias averaged 18.9. There were two of the top three scorers in the ACC that year. And it was no different in the losing cause against Georgia Tech, with Branch scoring 20 points and Bias adding 14. Anther key player for Lefty Driesell’s team that night was Sophomore Keith Gatlin, who scored 10 points and added 4 assists
Georgia Tech, coached by Bobby Cremins, was led by two familiar names–Juniors Mark Price and John Salley. Against Maryland, the Senior Yvon Joseph did most of the damage, scoring 20 points. Salley added 14 points. Price had an impressive all-around game with 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists. But Sophomore Bruce Dalrymple nearly matched Price with his 14 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists.
Do you remember this game? Please feel free to share any details in the Comments section below.
Several of these players would go on to have professional success:
- Mark Price played in the NBA from 1986-1998.
- John Salley played in the NBA from 1986-1999.
- Adrian Branch played in the NBA from 1986-1989.
- Yvon Joseph played in one NBA game in 1985-1986.
And, of course, Len Bias died tragically only two days after being drafted #2 overall by the Boston Celtics in the 1986 draft.
The famous John Salley, courtesy of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:John_Salley_LF.JPG
This Day in History is a feature that relies heavily on information obtained from Atlantic Coast Conference Men’s Basketball Games, Michael O’ Hara, McFarland & Company, Inc. (2008). Special thanks to that fine publication.
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