Charged-particle and γ decays in 24 Mg * are investigated for excitation energies where quasimolecular resonances appear in 12 C + 12 C collisions. Various theoretical predictions for the occurrence of superdeformed and hyperdeformed bands associated with resonance structures with low spin are discussed within the measured 24 Mg * excitation energy region. The inverse kinematics reaction 24 Mg + 12 C is studied at E lab ( 24 Mg) = 130 MeV, an energy that enables the population of 24 Mg states decaying into 12 C + 12 C resonant breakup states. Exclusive data were collected with the Binary Reaction Spectrometer in coincidence with Euroball IV installed at the Vivitron tandem facility at Strasbourg. Specific structures with large deformation were selectively populated in binary reactions, and their associated γ decays studied. Coincident events associated with inelastic and α-transfer channels have been selected by choosing the excitation energy or the entry point via the two-body Q values. The analysis of the binary reaction channels is presented with a particular emphasis on 24 Mg-γ, 20 Ne-γ , and 16 O-γ coincidences. New information (spin and branching ratios) is deduced on high-energy states in 24 Mg and 16 O, respectively.