Highlights: State Ousted by Duke

Fast and furious are two words that are perfect descriptors for yesterdays game against Duke. The first half featured excellent shooting by both teams and when the dust settled NC State lead 53-50 at the intermission. Duke’s Brandon Ingram came out on fire as he made 4 threes in the first half, and finished with 22 points. NC State played great offensively as they poured in 89 points, but once again it is tough to win when you allow the other team to score 92! A big reason State lost is due to the gutsy play of Marshal Plumlee, the big man played a great game filled with toughness, playing through a broken and bloodied nose. Plumlee finished with 17 points (5-5 from the field) and had 10 rebounds, none bigger than the last offensive rebound that sealed the fate for the Pack.

Plumlee powered up a put back layup and was fouled, he then made the free throw. With 30 seconds remaining and the Pack down three one would think that State would of went for a quick two, but Cat dribbled too long on the perimeter and then decided to drive the ball to the rim, only to have Plumlee help off which forced him into trying to make a hard drop off pass to Anya, who could not coral the ball. Turnover…Duke then threw the ball up and ran off most of the time before State could foul. It was a frustrating end to a frustrating season. Uncertainty in the final 30 seconds caused the Pack to miss an opportunity to prolong the game.

NC State had four players in double figures and shot 55% from the field, and 45% from three. These numbers topped Duke in each category, the difference was at the foul line, Duke attempted 11 more foul shots than the Wolfpack. Coach K said they score the ball by threes and free throws, and they proved it again yesterday. Questions will be aplenty in the coming weeks for NC State, will Cat Barber make the leap to the NBA? Who will be hired to fill Rob Moxley’s assistant coach position? Will anyone transfer? Will this team play in any post season tournaments?

For now check out the highlights from yesterdays game presented by the ACC Digital Network: