NC State completely collapses late in 77-76 loss to Miami

NC State was leading by 7 with less than a minute to play, but fumbled away the win with turnovers, missed free throws, and a fouled 3-point shooter with 3.7 seconds left to play.

It started with 1:07 left to play. NC State led by 7.

Everyone knew they were going to Malik Reneau (finished with 26 points), but NC State didn’t seem to realize it. Reneau drove right, there was no help, and he finished the layup and got the foul.

State was still up 4. But Lubin threw away the inbounds pass and Miami got the layup.

State still up 2, but inexplicably, instead of picking the ball up out of the net and getting in bounds before Miami could set up, Copeland stepped over the ball and let it go, waiting for Darrion Williams to inbounds it. This allowed Miami to set up its full-court press.

And instead of demanding the ball and going to it aggressively, Copeland sort of floated in to try to get the pass. This made that pass too risky. Williams was forced to throw it in the corner to Tre Holloman (a severe no-no).

The trap came, and instead of using one of their 2 timeouts. Holloman threw it to Copeland in the middle, and Miami knocked it away. You could argue Copeland didn’t come to the ball hard enough, but either way, Miami gets the ball after Copeland fouls.

Out of the inbounds, somehow NC State completely loses a 3pt shooter, leaving him wide open, but he misses. What the heck was going on there?

NC State luckily gets the rebound, gets it to Copeland, and he’s fouled.

Copeland misses the 1 and 1.

Miami down 2, and NC State just needing to make sure there are no open 3s.

On the inbounds, they throw it to Reneau who is covered by Lubin and Copeland. Darrion Williams leaks over as well in a bad read, leaving his man open.

His man gets the pass and drives.

Instead of staying home, Holloman comes in to cut off the drive, leaving his man wide open for 3. Another bad read.

The ball is kicked out to Washington for a wide open 3, Darrion Williams tries to recover and fouls him.

3 shots.

He hits all 3.

NC State loses.

A complete collapse. A devastating loss.

Overall, it was an uneven performance from NC State.

Matt Able had an elite first half with 15 points. Paul McNeil Jr came in and had a great second half with 14 points.

Lubin had another amazing outing, scoring 17 on 7-9 shooting and grabbing 9 rebounds.

But NC State other stars didn’t really show up.

Quadir Copeland finished with 11 points and 5 assists, but was 3-10 from the field, 1-5 from 3, and had 2 turnovers. That line isn’t awful, but Copeland just didn’t look right tonight. Miami played him well, dropping WAY down into the lane on him and allowing him wide open 3s. He shot them, he missed them. And it got in his head. That paid off for Miami not just in Copeland’s shooting percentage, but at the end of the game, Copeland wasn’t locked in. It seemed like he didn’t want the basketball at the end, and that, for a PG, is a problem.

Meanwhile, Darrion Williams was bad. And you know what. We’ve held back a little with our commentary on Williams, but tonight, he killed NC State with some very bad decision-making. I know that’s harsh, but NC State can deal with Williams going ghost; they can’t, however, overcome Williams playing like he did today: 5-12 for 11 points. 1-5 from 3. Yes, he had 3 rebounds and 3 assists, but he also had 3 turnovers and 5 fouls (2 of which were crippling for the Pack). Williams got an unnecessary technical foul that cost NC State 2 points. He fouled a 3-point shooter with 3 seconds left that cost NC State 3 points. And the constant contested shots out of rhythm continue to cost this team.

On Miami’s side, they played fine. Reneau scored 26, and NC State had no answer for him. They punished NC State on the boards 40-29. They protected the basketball, only turning it over 9 times, and they had a great game plan to not just take Copeland out of the game, but get in his head.

Credit to Miami, but NC State choked this one away. Reality is going to hurt when the dust settles with this one, and it should. This was a game NC State needed