Connect with us

NC State Basketball

NC State’s 2nd Team Beats USC Upstate 98-71

Published

on

NC State beat USC Upstate 98-71 to improve to 11-1 on the year, but the leaders of the Pack weren’t who you would expect.

Coach Keatts subbed in his 2nd team of five at the 16 minute mark in the 1st half. He brought his starters back in with 11:22 left in the 1st.

Their time on the court would be short lived. They were sloppy on defense, allowing USC Upstate to go on a 6-0 run in a 1:25 span.

As a result, the “starters” were pulled, and the “2nd team” was thrown back into the game.

NC State led by 18 points (50-32) at the half, but that couldn’t wipe the scowl off of Kevin Keatts’ face.

Sending a message, and rewarding effort, Devon Daniels, Eric Lockett, DJ Funderburk, Blake Harris, and Jericole Hellems started the second half.

Plain and simple…NC State was better against USC Upstate when starters Torin Dorn, Markell Johnson, and CJ Bryce weren’t in the game.

Look at the +/- column on the far right for proof. The top 5 players started the game, and the bottom 5 came off the bench.

The “bench” scored 62 points today, which was the highest output of the season, and the most since the 1999-2000 season.

Graduate Senior Eric Lockett, who didn’t play a second in the Auburn game, led the Wolfpack in scoring and rebounds with 15 points and 8 rebounds (tied with Devon Daniels).

Redshirt Sophomore Devon Daniels didn’t shoot the ball efficiently (4-11 FG), but he finished with 13 points and 8 rebounds, and boasted the best +/- of the game (+39).

Redshirt Sophomore DJ Funderburk (4-7 FG) and Freshman Jericole Hellems (6-14 FG & 6 rebounds) both had 13 points as well.

Redshirt Sophomore Blake Harris led the Wolfpack with 8 assists, and also added in 8 points of his own (3-4 FG).

If Harris had scored two more points, the NC State bench would have all been in double-figures.

What the “2nd team” put on film wasn’t always artwork, but it was pure effort and hustle. NC State turned the ball over 15 times, but forced USC Upstate to turn it over 21 times.

The Wolfpack was unselfish today, recording 23 assists on 36 field goals.

Honestly, all 10 players on the roster could start on any given night, and they would deserve it.

NC State beat a team by 27 points this afternoon, and CJ Bryce, Markell Johnson and Braxton Beverly combined for 13 points.

Chalk that up as a big win for the Wolfpack.

NC State’s next game will be at home against Loyola University Maryland on December 28th at 7pm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Matthew is Co-Owner of Pack Insider. He writes for all sports, with a focus on football and recruiting, and is in charge of business strategy. He is an NC State alum who majored in business. Matthew is also the lead pastor of The Point Church in Cary, NC.

Click to comment
Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

NC State Basketball

An NC State Win Over Marquette in the Sweet 16 Would Be…

Published

on

Awesome. Obviously.

#11 seed NC State will play #2 seed Marquette tomorrow night in the Sweet 16. What would a win mean for the Wolfpack? Many things, but here’s just a few:

It would give NC State 25 wins on the year (25-14), which would be the most wins since 1982-83, when the Wolfpack went 26-10, winning the National Championship.

It would mark the 12th time in school history that NC State has won 25+ games in a single season.

1982-83 – 26-10 

1973-74 – 30-1 

1972-73 – 27-0 

1954-55 – 28-4 

1953-54 – 26-7

1952-53 – 26-6 

1950-51 – 30-7 

1949-50 – 27-6 

1948-49 – 25-8 

1947-48 – 29-3

1946-47- 26-5

It would be the 7th time NC State has advanced to the Elite 8 in the NCAA Tournament.

1950

1951

1974

1983

1985

1986

Continue Reading

NC State Basketball

NC State has Won 5 ACC Championships this Year

Published

on

NC State has won 5 ACC Championships this year, which is the most of any athletic program in the conference this year.

The Wolfpack has won ACC Titles in Women’s Cross Country, Men’s Swimming & Diving, Wrestling, Men’s Basketball and Gymnastics.

The last time NC State won 5 ACC Championships in one year was 1979-80.

As far as I can tell, here’s a look at the Wolfpack Conference Titles from 1979-80:

Football
Women’s Basketball
Women’s Cross Country
Men’s Swimming & Diving
Men’s Tennis

Continue Reading

NC State Basketball

NC State is 1 of 4 Schools to Have Both Men & Women’s Basketball Teams in Sweet 16

Published

on

NC State is 1 of 4 schools to have their Men and Women’s Basketball teams BOTH advance to the Sweet 16, along with Duke, Gonzaga and UCONN.

NC State and Duke are the only two schools in the country to send both Basketball teams to the Sweet 16, and also send the Football team to a bowl game.

This marks only the third time in school history that BOTH teams made the Sweet 16.

Years NC State’s Men & Women’s Teams Made the Sweet 16

1985
1989
2024

Despite the fact that the Men’s team has made the Elite 8 six times (1950, 1951, 1974, 1983, 1985, 1986), and the Women have made it 2 times (1998 & 2022), in the three occasions they both went to the Sweet 16 in the same year, neither team advanced to the Elite 8.

In 2024, Why Not Us?

Continue Reading

NC State Basketball

#3 seed NC State Holds on Against #6 Seed Tennessee, Defeating the Vols 79-72 to Advance to the Sweet 16

Published

on

#3 seed NC State held on last night, defeating #6 seed Tennessee 79-72 in Reynolds Coliseum to advance to the Sweet 16 for the 5th time in the last 6 tournaments.

The Wolfpack led by only 1 after the 1st Quarter, but they looked like they had things under control at halftime, leading by 18 points.

At one point, NC State led by as much as 20 points in the 3rd Quarter, but the Lady Volunteers weren’t about to give up.

With 4:19 left in the 4th, Tennessee cut the lead to 2 points, but NC State might have bent, but they wouldn’t break.

Junior Guard Aziaha James led the way with 22 points and 7 assists, which were both team highs. She scored 7 points in the final 3.5 minutes, helping to squash tue Last Vols’ comeback attempt.

Junior Guard Saniya Rivers had 20 points (6-14 FG) and 6 boards.

Freshman Zoe Brooks was clutch off the bench, chipping in 16 points and 6 boards.

This marks the 16th time the NC State Women’s Basketball team has advanced to the Sweet 16.

The Wolfpack will play #2 seed Stanford on Friday night at 7:30pm on ESPN in Portland.

Continue Reading