North Carolina State's J.J. Hickson, left, dives fpr the ball being held by Georgia Tech's Gani Lawal during the first half of a basketball game in Raleigh, N.C., Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2008. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

By Bret Strelow

Salisbury Post

RALEIGH — The communication before North Carolina State's final possession, just like the shot it produced, fell short.

Freshman point guard Javier Gonzalez airballed an open 3-point try from the right wing as time expired, and the Wolfpack lost 77-74 to Georgia Tech at the RBC Center on Wednesday night.

After some initial confusion following a made free throw by Georgia Tech's Anthony Morrow, Gonzalez raced in from midcourt to catch Brandon Costner's inbounds pass. Gonzalez dribbled down the right sideline and worked off a screen from Courtney Fells, who broke toward the top of the key.

Gonzalez and Wolfpack coach Sidney Lowe said the play called for Fells to bring the ball upcourt. Fells said it was Gonzalez's responsibility.

"I was going to get Courtney to handle the ball and let Courtney come off and shoot it, but he thought I meant to step up and run the screen," Lowe said. "It didn't matter — either one of those guys, I figured we were going to get an open look as we came off that screen.

"Javi came off, and he was open. I don't know if he was surprised he was that wide-open or not."

The shot wasn't close — it didn't reach the rim and was at least a foot left of the intended target.

Gonzalez covered his face with his jersey and banged his left shoulder against the basket support in frustration.

"When I went up it kind of slipped, but I had to shoot it," he said.

Fells, who went 9-for-11 from the field and scored a game-high 23 points, said he ran the same set that freed him up for a 3-pointer that helped N.C. State (12-6, 1-3 ACC) erase a four-point deficit in the final 18 seconds of its recent overtime win against Miami.

Georgia Tech's defenders didn't desert Fells.

"I thought we got a great shot because they both stayed with me," he said.

Georgia Tech (9-9, 2-3) came away with its first victory in eight tries at the RBC Center and its first one at N.C. State since 1996.

Mark Causey scored 18 points to lead the Yellow Jackets, who shot 59.2 percent.

N.C. State led 55-50 with 7:34 remaining, but Georgia Tech went on a 10-0 run in the next 78 seconds. The Yellow Jackets scored on 14 of their 16 possessions in the final 8:05.

"We can't win like that," Wolfpack senior Gavin Grant said.

A three-point play from Causey tied the game with 7:01 left, and Costner committed turnovers on the Wolfpack's next two trips.

The first miscue led to a steal and dunk by Jeremis Smith. Georgia Tech forward Gani Lawal collected an offensive rebound and converted a three-point play 44 seconds later.

Costner had a game-high five turnovers, and Grant had four.

"We turned it over too much tonight in the wrong positions," Lowe said. "You can't have your starting 3s and 4s having nine turnovers."

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Contact Bret Strelow at 704-797-4258 or bstrelow@salisburypost.com.