NC State Basketball
NC State Improves to 10-0, Defeating Liberty 80-67: BOX SCORE
NC State defeated Liberty 80-67 this afternoon, improving to 10-0 on the year.
Junior Guard Saniya Rivers was unable to play today, due to a sore back. As a result, Freshman Zoe Brooks started her first collegiate game, and made history in the process. Brooks recorded the 2nd triple-double in program history, with 14 points (2-11 FG), 11 rebounds (team high) and 10 assists (team high). The only other Wolfpack triple-double was recorded in 2001 by Tynesha Lewis. Brooks also chipped in 3 steals and 2 blocks. Her 10 assists were the most by any Wolfpack player this season. Brooks has now led NC State in assists 3 times this season.
Four other Wolfpack players scored in double figures.
For the 4th time this season, Junior Aziaha James led the Wolfpack in scoring, this time with 18, making 4 three-pointers.
Senior Madison Hayes had 15 points and 8 boards. Senior Mimi Collins had a double-double of 15 points and 10 boards.
Freshman Laci Steele had 10 points, scoring in double figures for the 2nd time this season.
As a team, the Wolfpack found a way to win, even though they shot miserably, making only 35.6% of their shots. Fortunately, Liberty only shot 38.5%.
How did the Wolfpack win a game when they shot so poorly? 15 second chance points, 15 points off of turnovers and 17 made free throws.
NC State will hit the road this Saturday, playing at South Florida at 7pm. Coach Moore was hopeful Rivers would be back for that contest.
According to reports, NC State is adding UMASS’ Brett Nelson as an Assistant Coach.
Sources: Brett Nelson is leaving UMass to join Kevin Keatts’ staff at NC State as an assistant.
Matt Figger — who worked for Frank Martin at both South Carolina and Kansas State — will replace Nelson in Amherst.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) May 15, 2024
Nelson was only at UMASS for 1 season under Frank Martin. Prior to that, Nelson was the Head Coach at Holy Cross for 4 seasons, posting a 27-84 record.
Prior to taking the Head Coaching mantle at Holy Cross, Nelson was at Marquette for 5 seasons, spending the first 3 as an Assistant Coach, and the final two as an Associate Head Coach. Prior to Marquette, Nelson also served as an Assistant Coach at Ball St., Drake, Arkansas and Marshall.
Before coaching basketball, Nelson played for the University of Florida from 1999-2003. He was All-SEC twice, and earned Third Team All-American honors. When he left Gainesville, he was the Gators’ all-time leader in three pointers made, and ranked 2nd in steals.
As a Senior in High School, Nelson was a McDonald’s All-American.
Power Forward Ernest Ross announced this morning that he is returning to NC State for his final year of eligibility.
View this post on Instagram
Last Friday, Ross committed to UTSA after entering the Transfer Portal on April 17th, but it looks like he had a change of heart over the past couple of days.
NC State has been in desperate need to add a Big out of the Portal. They have hosted ECU’s Ezra Ausar and Georgia’s Frank Anselem-Ibe, but neither of them have found a home yet. With the addition of Ross, NC State has added depth in the Frontcourt, and unless something changes, their roster is full with 13 scholarship players.
Ross played in 14 games this past season, 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 NC State’s 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.
With a Win Today, #17 NC State Will Secure a Top-4 Spot in the 2024 ACC Baseball Tournament
NC State Hosting a Regional in the 2024 NCAA Tournament is Looking Likely
#17 NC State Walks-It-Off for the 2nd Night in a Row Against #8 Wake Forest, Winning 2-1
Does the Addition of the UVA Series Equal the Elimination of NC State’s Series with App St.?
Alec Makarewicz has Entered the NC State Record Books with his 19 Home Runs
NC State’s Current 2024 Football Scholarship Breakdown
NC State Makes Top-4 for Georgia Transfer Center Frank Anselem-Ibe, Decision Coming Tuesday
Georgia Center Transfer Frank Anselem-Ibe Visited NC State this Week
Former NC State Forward Ernest Ross Commits to UTSA
Colorado NT Chazz Wallace Commits to NC State!
2024 NC State Commit Trey Parker Finishes 2nd in OTE Dunk Contest
VIDEO BREAKDOWN: Was BYU 3 point barrage unstoppable, or was NC State’s defense to blame? You decide.
VIDEO: Terquavion Smith GOES OFF in G-League Debut with 37 points & 8 Boards
NC State lands combo guard DJ Horne from the portal
