Fighting Irish hold off Georgia Tech, 62-59, despite absence of starting forward Auguste

ATLANTA — Jerian Grant scored 12 points, Steve Vasturia added 11 points and No. 12 Notre Dame beat Georgia Tech 62-59 on Wednesday night.

Despite the absence of starting forward Zach Auguste, the Fighting Irish (16-2, 4-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) secured their best start to a season since 1978-79.

Pat Connaughton, V.J. Beachem and Bonzie Colson each finished with 10 points, and Demetrius Jackson had nine for Notre Dame, which has won 12 of 13.

Irish coach Mike Brey said Auguste, who has averaged 14.3 points and 6.4 rebounds, missed the game because of an academic matter, but Brey would not speculate on a timetable for his return.

Demarco Cox scored 17 points and Chris Bolden added 13 for Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets (9-7, 0-4 ACC) haven't lost a league game by more than seven points this season.

Marcus Georges-Hunt, who led the Jackets with a 13.3 scoring average, went 0 for 6 and was without a field goal for the first time in his three-year career. He finished with six points.

Charles Mitchell, the Jackets' second-leading scorer this season, managed just two points on 1-for-5 shooting.

Martinas Geben started in Auguste's spot, but went scoreless in 6 minutes. Brey was pleased with the production of Vasturia and Colson, who combined to go 7 for 11 from the field.

The Irish struggled to end the first half, but better ball movement and shot selection helped them take a one-point lead on Connaughton's straightaway 3 with 14:57 remaining.

It was Notre Dame's first lead since the game's first two minutes, and the Irish led for most of the next 10 minutes before Cox hit a pair of free throws to put the Jackets up 56-55 at the 4:48 mark.

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TIP-INS

Georgia Tech: Only Georges-Hunt and Mitchell have started every game this season.

ROUGH IT UP

The teams exchanged hard fouls midway through the second when Chris Bolden was called for a technical in the lane and Connaughton knocked down Georges-Hunt near the top of the key on the next possession.

UP NEXT

Notre Dame: hosts Miami on Saturday.