Connect with us

NC State Basketball

NC State Rally’s After Keatts’ Ejection to Beat Wake Forest 83-76

Published

4 months ago

on

For the first time since 1988-89, NC State has started ACC play 5-1, defeating Wake Forest 83-76 tonight.

The Wolfpack didn’t lead in this game until the 2:17 mark in the 2nd half.

With 3:31 left in the 1st half, NC State head coach Kevin Keatts was hit with a double-technical foul, after a no call on a foul on Dennis Parker Jr. As a result, Wake Forest hit all 4 free throws, putting the Deacs up by 10, which is what they ultimately led by at the half.

At one point, Wake Forest led by 12 points right before halftime.

NC State shot the ball well all night, shooting 55.6% in the first half, 51.9% in the 2nd, and 53.7% for the game. Oddly enough, the Wolfpack just won a game in which they didn’t hit a single three-point shot, going 0-8 from beyond the arc.

On the other hand, NC State locked down on defense in the 2nd half. The Demon Deacons shot 53.8% from the field in the first half, hitting 4 three pointers. In the 2nd, the Wolfpack weren’t having it, holding Wake to 33.3% in the 2nd half, making only 2 three-pointers.

Senior Guard DJ Horne led the Pack in scoring once again, pacing NC State with 21 points, hitting 9 of his 19 shots. The Wolfpack were +17 with Horne on the court, which was the best on the squad.

With that being said, my MVP of the night was Junior big fella Ben Middlebrooks, who scored a career high 14 points, shooting a perfect 5 of 5 from the field, and 4 of 4 from the charity stripe. He also grabbed 6 boards. The Wolfpack were +15 with Middlebrooks on the court, which ranked 2nd on the team.

With 46 seconds left on the clock, Middlebrooks made an And-1 layup, and as he walked away hyped up, he incidentally bumped into Wake’s Hunter Sallis, who instantly got in Middlebrook’s face. The result was a technical foul on each, with the technical fouling Middlebrooks out of the game. Mohamed Diarra somehow felt the need to go get in the face of Sallis, which resulted in the two of them receiving technicals for “head-butting” each other, leading to the ejection of both players. In my opinion, there was no head-butting, and Diarra alone deserved a technical, which would have put the Wolfpack in a very precarious position. NC State got lucky in this instance.

It was an emotionally charged game, culminating with DJ Horne giving the referee the double bird after he turned his back with 2.2 seconds left, which went unseen to the referee, but not the television camera. Not a good look for Horne.

With that being said, kudos to Horne for owning it after the game. We all are guilty of making poor choices at times when emotions are high.

Did I mention that DJ Burns left the game early, and was throwing up in the tunnel.

In the end, NC State has shown some extreme resolve as of late. Against Notre Dame, they led for the first time with 0.6 seconds left. Tonight, they led for the first time with 2:17 left.

It hasn’t always been pretty, but the Wolfpack deserve respect for starting 5-1 in the ACC.

The Wolfpack will look continue to hang out in 2nd place in the ACC standings on Saturday, when they host Virginia Tech at Noon.

Related Topics:

Matthew is Publisher and Co-Owner of Pack Insider. He is also the Lead Pastor of The Point Church in Cary, NC.

4 Comments
Subscribe
Notify of
4 Comments
newest
oldest most Upvoted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
wolfpack74
wolfpack74
4 months ago

The Atlantic Coast Conference announced that it has issued a reprimand to NC State’s DJ Horne following Tuesday night’s Wake Forest at NC State men’s basketball game.

We say BFD. Let’s Go ACC.

-1
wolfpack74
wolfpack74
4 months ago

We saw great coaching at halftime and beyond. We need KR but not KK. Suggest using KR as head coach. Save money for NIL by firing useless KK.

-1
thenewclass13
thenewclass13
4 months ago
Reply to  wolfpack74

god shut up. if you think KR and gthe other assistants weren’t executing KK’s gameplan than you’re an idiot.

1
62forthepack
62forthepack
4 months ago

I think Jeffrey Anderson should go to the same place Carl Hess is!!!

0

NC State Basketball

NC State is Adding UMASS’ Brett Nelson as an Assistant Coach

Published

3 days ago

on

May 15, 2024

By

According to reports, NC State is adding UMASS’ Brett Nelson as an Assistant Coach.

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.

Continue Reading

NC State Basketball

Ernest Ross Announces He is Returning to NC State

Published

4 days ago

on

May 15, 2024

By

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

 

A post shared by Eway♻️🏂 (@thebiggesteworld3)

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.

Continue Reading

NC State Basketball

A Matchup Between NC State & Marquette Next Season Might be in the Works

Published

4 days ago

on

May 15, 2024

By

According to NCAA.com’s Andy Katz, a matchup between NC State and Marquette next season might be in the works.

This past year, the Wolfpack defeated the Golden Eagles 67-58 in the Sweet 16 of the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

NC State and Marquette have played one another 6 times overall, with the Wolfpack holding a 4-2 lead in the series, winning the past two matchups.

Continue Reading

NC State Basketball

NC State Men’s Basketball Will Play in the 2025 Maui Invitational

Published

5 days ago

on

May 14, 2024

By

The NC State Men’s Basketball Team will be playing in the 2025 Maui Invitational, on November 24-26 in Hawaii. This will mark the first time that NC State has ever played in the Maui Invitational.

NC State will be joined by Baylor, Oregon, Seton Hall, Texas, UNLV, USC and Chaminade.

Continue Reading