NC State Basketball
Smith, Clark, Morsell go-off in 92-81 exhibition win in the Bahamas
NC State men’s basketball took their off-season foreign trip to the Bahamas this year and won their first game 92-81.
These foreign trips are allowed every few years, however, because of COVID, they weren’t really an option. This year, they were and Keatts and Co. took advantage.
With a lot of fresh faces and new transfers in the mix, the trip is serving as an opportunity to create some chemistry, create some bonds, and put last season behind them.
Last night they took their first step, knocking off Bahama Select (part of their national team) 92-81.
Final:
Pack 92, Bahamas Select 81
All 13 of our guys got a chance to play in the 4th quarter.
Terquavion Smith led the Pack with 26 points, Casey Morsell added 18 and Jack Clark had a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds.
— NC State Men’s Bball (@PackMensBball) August 7, 2022
Terquavion Smith, who decided to return to Raleigh, despite being a potential first-round NBA selection, was as advertised, dropping 26 points in 27 minutes (also had 5 steals and 3 assists). Casey Morsell added 18 and 5. Transfer PG Jarkell Joiner dropped 14 with 3 assists, and transfer SF Jack Clark notched a double-double with 12 points and 13 boards (5 offensive).
Meanwhile, Breon Pass, who hasn’t been talked about much this off-season, decided to stick it out and come back for his sophomore season (he’s a former 4-star PG). He’s one to watch as he’s added some muscle and is looking to get some big minutes at PG for the Pack. So far, so good. Pass finished with 7 points, 5 boards and 5 assists (with no turnovers).
The team didn’t release a full box score, but according to the official Twitter, transfer center, and former Big South Player of the Year, DJ Burns had at least 6 points on the night. He was 3-3 in the first quarter.
Here are a few highlights.
.@Tgetsbuckss23 gets out in transition for the jam pic.twitter.com/Zrzxy04grQ
— NC State Men’s Bball (@PackMensBball) August 7, 2022
The man knows how to find the 🎥 pic.twitter.com/zjzvuAtoBN
— NC State Men’s Bball (@PackMensBball) August 7, 2022
NC State takes on the Puerto Rican national team Tuesday at 3pm.
Gameday in Paradise‼️
We face the Bahamian National Team at 3 pm at @atlantisbahamas
No streaming option but we will have a recap/photos/highlights after the game. pic.twitter.com/PcJKH5toQE
— NC State Men's Bball (@PackMensBball) August 7, 2022
The true benefit of these foreign trips are the 10 extra practices.
Typically, the staff takes them to the beach or somewhere for bonding opportunities, so they get that anyway, but those practices are gold. Especially with the need to get the four new transfers up to speed and contributing right out of the gate.