COLLEGE BASKETBALL / NATIONAL ROUNDUP : Youth Serves Georgia Tech in a Victory Over Georgia

James Forrest and Travis Best played key roles in Georgia Tech’s 75-67 victory over Georgia Wednesday night at Atlanta.

Coach Bobby Cremins’ reaction?

“They’re growing up, but they’re still sophomores,” Cremins said.

Perhaps, but Forrest led the No. 17 Yellow Jackets with 22 points, and Best scored five of his 13 down the stretch to help thwart a Bulldog rally that had cut Georgia Tech’s lead to four.

“I thought we were about to fold, but we didn’t, and we got a good victory,” Cremins said. “I really think they can become two outstanding players. It’s obvious they’re getting better, but sometimes we expect too much, too soon.”

Georgia Tech (3-1) led, 50-36, but a Georgia rally capped by a 12-footer by Arlando Bennett cut the deficit to 63-59. Georgia (2-3) regained possession after Bryan Hill’s turnover and missed three consecutive three-point shots before Best’s three-pointer made it 66-59 with 1:45 to play.

Best later hit two free throws to offset a basket by Carlos Strong, and the Bulldogs did not threaten again.

Strong, a freshman, led the Bulldogs with 15 points and Rhine and Bennett each scored 13.

No. 21 Louisville 93, DePaul 88--James Brewer made six three-pointers, including one during Louisville’s 12-2 run in the second half, and the Cardinals held on for a 93-88 victory at Louisville.

DePaul (3-2) had rallied from a 10-point deficit and got to 59-56 on Peter Patton’s 15-foot jumper with 9:28 to play.

Derwin Webb started Louisville’s spurt with a dunk after Brewer’s miss from the corner. Greg Minor then converted a three-point play at 8:42 to widen the margin to 64-56.

DePaul turned the ball over, which Louisville converted into a basket to take a 10-point advantage with 8:23 remaining.

Brewer finished with 18 points. Minor had 16 and LeGree 14 to help Louisville (2-2) end a two-game losing streak.

OTHER GAMES

Geert Hammink scored 20 points for the second consecutive night and had 20 rebounds to lead Louisiana State (5-0) to a 93-71 victory over Campbell (2-2) at Baton Rouge, La. Clarence Ceasar led LSU with 22 points. . . .Tyrone Bell scored 18 points to lead Southern Illinois (4-0) to a 57-44 victory over St. Louis University (2-3) at Carbondale, Ill.

Lawrence Funderburke scored a career-high 28 points and Rickey Dudley scored all six of his points during a second-half surge as Ohio State (4-0) posted a 76-55 victory over Wright State (4-2) at Columbus, Ohio. Wright State, ninth in the nation in scoring at 96 points per game, was limited to 36% shooting. . . .Chris Pavlic had 18 points to lead Princeton (5-2) to a 50-41 victory over North Carolina State (1-3) at East Rutherford, N.J.