#3 seed NC State trailed by 10 points at halftime to #2 seed Stanford. The Wolfpack only shot 33.3% in the 1st half, and the Cardinals shot 45.9%.
What turned things around for NC State in the 2nd half?
Junior Guard Aziaha James.
James scored 25 of her 29 points in the 2nd half, making 8 of 14 from the field, 3 of 5 from three, and 10 off 11 from the free throw line. She also led the team with 5 assists.
As a team, the Wolfpack shot 55.5% from the field in the 2nd half.
Junior Guard Saniya Rivers had 13 points (4-12 FG) and 7 rebounds.
Freshman Guard Zoe Brooks had 12 points (6-14 FG) and 3 steals.
Junior Guard Madison Hayes led the squad with 10 board, and hit 2 of 3 from beyond the arc.
In the end, the Wolfpack’s defense was effective in cooling off the Stanford offense, which only shot 40.0% from the field, and 20.0% from three for the game.
NC State has advanced to the Elite 8 for the 2nd time in 3 years, and the 3rd time in program history. The Wolfpack will play the winner of the Texas (#1 seed) and Gonzaga (#4 seed).
It’s hard to fathom that this ELITE team started the season unranked.
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.
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.
According to NCAA.com’s Andy Katz, a matchup between NC State and Marquette next season might be in the works.
Love that @CoachShakaSmart doesn’t shy away from big games next season. @MarquetteMBB will play 3 @B1GMBBall teams in Purdue, Wisconsin and likely Maryland. Iowa State is on the schedule and the hope is Marquette could also get a game with NC State. Kam Jones could be @BIGEASTMBB…
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.
And now your starting lineup for the 2025 Maui Invitational! 🏀🏆🌴@TheAndyKatz reveals the eight premier programs with 156 @MarchMadnessMBB appearances, 19 @MFinalFour‘s and 5 national championships between them coming to the Lahaina Civic Center Nov. 24-26, 2025. pic.twitter.com/dnq94dQfvH