NC State Basketball
DOWN GOES CAROLINA! NC State upsets #10 UNC 95-91 in OT
NC State came into this game as 12.5 point underdogs to rival North Carolina, but some big spread never stopped Kevin Keatts before.
NC State played one of the most focused and disciplined games of their season, answering every UNC run and punching back with poise and passion on their way to a 95-91 OT win at Carolina.
Locker room vibes after a 95-91 OT win over UNC-Chapel Hill! #GoPack pic.twitter.com/rDIBZVOHxu
— NC State Men's Bball (@PackMensBball) January 27, 2018
Al Freeman was the star. After a long stretch of struggling to find his shot and his confidence. He awoke in a big way when the bright lights came on. The transfer senior went off for 29 points, going 8-11 from the field and an insane 7-7 from beyond the arc. That type of game from Freeman took nearly everyone by surprise.
Except for PackInsider.com 😉
Not sure what’s gotten into me, but I’m feeling a big game from Al Freeman.
(Well aware that this tweet could age very poorly)
— PackInsider.com (@PackInsider) January 27, 2018
Freeman had one other performance like this when State upset #2 Arizona earlier this season and was due for a big game. However, a game like this, in all seriousness, I don’t think anyone was ready for.
But this wasn’t just the Al Freeman show. This was also a huge game for both Markell Johnson and Torin Dorn. Dorn has been a massive factor in every one of NC State’s big conference wins and he did it again, delivering a late 3 from the corner and playing extremely aggressive down the stretch. He finished with 20.
Johnson finally decided to start scoring. We noted how a scoring Markell Johnson is a very dangerouisMarkell Johnson because suddenly, you have to respect his drive a lot more, giving him even more passing lanes to work with. He finished with 11 assists (which was his 3rd double-figure assist game in a row) but he was NC State’s go-to guy in as regulation was coming to an end and then in overtime. He finished with 20 points on 7-15 shooting and 2-5 from 3.
Then there was Omer Yurtseven. No one had a bigger impact than Yurt. He finished with 16 points and 13 boards, but it was his battling in the paint and tips that kept possessions alive that made the difference. His defense down the stretch was also a huge factor in NC State nailing this one down.
The Pack shot 44.7% from teh floor, 50% from long range, was killed on the boards 48-34 but won the turnover battle 14-9.
Kevin Keatts is now 2-0 vs his crosstown rivals, beating #2 Duke and home and now taking out #10 UNC in their own house. Let me just put this right here.
Sorry Roy, but we are giant killers. CUE THE DAMN TWEET! pic.twitter.com/OgmlAqAYcX
— Barstool Pack (@BarstoolPack) January 27, 2018
This win was huge for NC State. All of the sudden they find themselves at 5-4 in the ACC and 15-7 overall. Just 4 wins away from the 9 conference win mark that many believe is the cutoff line for making the NCAA tournament.
Here is the boxscore.
NC State Basketball
NC State Makes Top-4 for Georgia Transfer Center Frank Anselem-Ibe, Decision Coming Tuesday
This past week, NC State hosted Georgia Center Transfer Frank Anselem-Ibe (6’10″/215) for an Official Visit. According to Jeff Borzello, Anselem-Ibe is down to NC State, Georgia Tech, Louisville and Wisconsin, and he will be announcing his decision on Tuesday.
Georgia transfer Frank Anselem-Ibe is down to Georgia Tech, Louisville, NC State and Wisconsin, sources told ESPN. He’ll announce his decision on Tuesday. Began his career at Syracuse.
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) May 10, 2024
Anselem-Ibe was at Georgia the past two seasons, and was at Syracuse the two before that.
Back in 2020, Anselem-Ibe was a 4-Star prospect out of Prolific Prep in Georgia. 247Sports ranked him as the #18 player in the state of Georgia.
Anselem-Ibe hit the Portal on April 30th.
NC State has one scholarship available.
Former NC State Forward Ernest Ross has committed to UTSA for his final year of eligibility.
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Ross played in 14 games this year, averaging 3.4 minutes per contest. After playing in 34 games last season, averaging 11.4 minutes per contest, Ross saw his participation dip to a career low this season, but that didn’t for a second break his infectious personality. On the sideline, you could count on Ross every single game to be the heart and soul of the Wolfpack on the bench. To watch a player who played as little as he did, care as much as he did, makes me super proud that this young man represented NC State so well.
Ross was a consensus 4-star player in the 2021 recruiting class, with 247Sports ranking him as the #60 overall player nationally. ESPN ranked him as the #5 overall player in the state of Florida.
Georgia Transfer Center Frank Anselem-Ibe (6’10″/215) was in for a visit to NC State yesterday, according to a source.
Anselm-Ibe was at Georgia the past two seasons, and was at Syracuse the two before that.
Back in 2020, Anselm-Ibe was a 4-Star prospect out of Prolific Prep in Georgia. 247Sports ranked him as the #18 player in the state of Georgia.
Anselm-Ibe hit the Portal on April 30th.
ECU Power Forward Transfer Ezra Ausar took an Official Visit to NC State a little over a week ago, and while things were looking good at first, at this point, it seems like things have reached a point of radio silence. From what I’m hearing, NC State would definitely take Ausar, but they aren’t going to wait for him either.
NC State Basketball
NC State Women’s Basketball Ranks 8th in ESPN’s Way-Too-Early 2024-25 Preseason Top-25
