North Carolina State University Athletics
Penn State Rallies Past NC State, 74-72
3/30/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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By Tony Haynes
New York, N.Y. (March 30, 2000)-In many ways, NC State's final game of the college basketball season was an instant replay of many games the Wolfpack has played this year.
For about 32 minutes on Thursday night, the Pack looked as though it would run away from Penn State. But then came a long scoring drought and some defensive breakdowns. As a result, the Nittany Lions (19-16) rallied from an 11-point deficit to edge NC State 74-72 at Madison Square Garden.
Joe Crispin's driving layup with two ticks showing on the clock proved to be the difference as Penn State clinched third place by winning the consolation game of the National Invitation Tournament.
Crispin, who came in averaging over 18 points per game, scored all 14 of his points in the second half. Power forward Jarrett Stephens hit 11-of-18 shots to finish with a game-high 28 for the Lions.
Damien Wilkins led the Wolfpack with 21-points and six rebounds. Kenny Inge added 18-points and nine boards while Anthony Grundy added 10-points off the bench.
After the two teams played to a 37-37 tie in the opening half, NC State (20-14) went on a 19-to-8 run over the first eight minutes of the second half to grab a 56-45 lead. Wilkins, who went just 1-for-11 from the field in the Pack's overtime loss to Wake Forest on Tuesday night, scored six points during the surge.
A Damon Thornton slam at the 9:14 mark gave NC State a 62-51 bulge. But that's when the momentum changed. While the Wolfpack would go the next 6:34 without a field goal, Penn State chipped away. A Crispin three-point bomb brought the Nittany Lions within six with 8:31 remaining.
Another Crispin three at the 5:32 mark cut NC State's lead down to two at 65-63.
The Pack briefly pushed its advantage back out to five when Inge hit a pair of free throws with 4:07 remaining. But Penn State wouldn't go away. When Titus Ivory popped in a three from the left wing with 2:05 left, the game was tied 70-70.
Thornton fouled out when he was called for hand checking Crispin with just over a minute to play. Crispin, who shoots over 89 percent from the line, made both to give Penn State its first lead of the second half.
NC State came right back to tie it at 72-apiece when Inge knocked down a short hook in the lane with 13.6 seconds remaining.
Instead of calling time out, Crispin pushed the ball quickly down the court, dashed past Justin Gainey and banked it in off the glass to give the Lions a 74-72 advantage. It was only fitting that Crispin then snuffed out the Wolfpack's last ditch attempt to get off a game-winning shot when he intercepted an inbounds pass at midcourt and ran out the remaining two seconds to end the game.
For the game, Penn State connected on 50.9 percent of its shots. NC State shot 47.3 percent from the field. The Pack had 18 costly turnovers, which were generated into 25 points by the Nittany Lions. NC State scored only 11-points off of 13 Penn State turnovers. The Wolfpack had a fairly one-sided 34-25 advantage on the boards.
