Wolfpack Weekly Review 1/26

Posted by J.J. Greenstein on January 16, 2012 under ACC Basketball | Comments are off for this article

The Pack (13-5, 2-1 ACC) played three conference games in the past week, earning victories at home against Maryland 79-74 and on the road at Wake Forest 76-40, but dropped a home contest to Georgia Tech 82-71.

State hangs on to beat Maryland, 79-74

The Pack used a double-double from forward C.J. Leslie (20 points, 11 rebounds) to outlast the visiting Terrapins 79-74 at the RBC Center. Mark Gottfried became the first Wolfpack coach since Les Robinson in 1991 to win his first ACC game, the win also broke Maryland’s nine-game winning streak over the Pack.

Maryland’s Terrell Stoglin did everything he could to keep Maryland in the game, but they could never get within three points in the second half. Stoglin, who entered as the ACC’s leading scorer, poured in 25 points. The Pack tried everything defensively on Stoglin but he just kept hitting, often under heavy pressure and on the move.

The starting point guard for the Pack, sophomore Lorenzo Brown flirted with a triple-double. His massive game included 11 points, nine assists and seven rebounds in 31 minutes of play. NC State also received double-figure scoring from junior forwards Scott Wood (19 points) and Richard Howell (10).

The Pack out-rebounded the Terps 33-29 and dished out 15 assists on 28 made baskets while shooting over 47 percent from the floor. The win gave the Pack their longest winning streak of the season, at six games.

Pack falls flat against Tech, 82-71

The energy displayed by the Wolfpack in their win over Maryland was nowhere to be found a couple nights later as they hosted Georgia Tech. State’s lack of perimeter defense contributed to the Yellow Jackets hitting nine of their 15 three-point attempts as Tech downed the Wolfpack 82-71 at the RBC Center.

While Georgia Tech hadn’t won a game since before Christmas, losers of four straight but they came out shooting like an all-star team, finishing over 50 percent from the floor. Tech took an 11 point lead to the break and the two teams played an even second half (42 points apiece) to give the Jackets the victory.

The Yellow Jackets were led by Glen Rice Jr.’s 22 points, and Mfon Udofia’s 17. Center Daniel Miller, guard Brandon Reed, and wing Jason Morris all finished in double figures for the Yellow Jackets. Tech used their 28-26 advantage on the boards to hold onto their lead in the second half.

All five starters for the Wolfpack finished in double-figures, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Tech’s hot shooting. C.J. Leslie led the Pack with 16 points and seven rebounds before fouling out after 24 minutes of play.

State blasts Wake, 76-40

The Pack refused to let the loss to Georgia Tech beat them twice, as the dismantled the Demon Deacons in Winston Salem 76-40 in their first conference road game of the season. The 36 point margin of victory was the largest on the road in the ACC for the Pack since 1954. It also marked the third straight time the Pack had beaten Wake Forest by at least 20 points.

Point guard Lorenzo Brown led the Pack with 20 points and six assists. Senior C.J. Williams added 15 points of his own, and junior forwards Richard Howell and Scott Wood finished with 12 apiece. State had nine different players score and C.J. Leslie was not one of them. Leslie did not start due to undisclosed disciplinary actions and only played 17 minutes.

State was dominant on defense and on the boards. The Pack out-rebounded Wake Forest 42-30, and committed only nine turnovers to Wake’s 17. The Demon Deacons were held to 29 percent shooting from the floor, and an abysmal two of twenty from the three-point line. The most alarming note from the Pack’s defense was that Wake only managed to score one basket in the final 13 minutes of the game.

The Pack never trailed, as the 40 points against was their best defensive performance of the season. It was also the Pack’s largest margin of victory so far this year.

What’s next for the Pack?

State has a few days off before hosting Boston College (7-10, 2-1 ACC) Thursday night at the RBC Center. The Eagles come in after back-to-back two-point home victories over Clemson and Virginia Tech.

This is another “must-win” for the Wolfpack if they hope to reach the NCAA Tournament this year, they can ill afford another letdown like the one they had against Georgia Tech.

Junior guard Matt Humphrey is the only Boston College player averaging double-figure scoring at just over 10 points per game. If State can contain him, they should come away with a victory.