North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Looks To Stay Hot Against Charleston Southern
12/19/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 19, 2001
By Tony Haynes
As it has proved in its last two outings, NC State is capable playing some pretty impressive basketball. Now it's time to see if the Wolfpack can stand prosperity.
When it hosts Charleston Southern at the Entertainment and Sports Arena on Wednesday night at 7:30, the Pack (8-2) will be shooting for its fourth straight victory. Since losing to Massachusetts on Dec. 1, coach Herb Sendek's team has put together its best stretch of basketball to date.
With the ACC opener against Maryland just 11 days away, it would behoove the Wolfpack to continue the upward curve that has been noticeable over the last few weeks. Having scored 44 points over his last two games, senior guard Anthony Grundy has his scoring average up to 14.7 points per game. A streaky shooter throughout his career, Grundy is hitting 50 percent of his field goal attempts this season.
Freshman Josh Powell (11.7 avg.), sophomore Marcus Melvin (10.5) and rookie Julius Hodge (10.3) are also averaging in double-figures for NC State.
Senior point guard Archie Miller, who is averaging 9.1 points per contest, has 39 assists compared to only nine turnovers, a ratio that ranks No.1 in the ACC.
Heading into Wednesday night's contest, the Wolfpack is fourth in the nation in scoring defense (56.2 avg.). So far this season, NC State opponents are shooting just 38 percent from the floor.
Charleston Southern (3-5) will be playing its second straight game against ACC competition. On Monday night, the Buccaneers fell to 5th ranked Virginia in Charlottesville, 74-54. Junior guard Gene Granger paced the Bucs with 13 points.
