North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State
Clemson
Hot Wolfpack Shoots Down Clemson, 80-70
1/29/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 29, 2005
By Tony Haynes
Clemson, S.C. - On January 29th 1983, NC State fell to Maryland, its sixth loss in eight games. Thought to be dead in the water, the Wolfpack made a miraculous recovery and went on to win the national title. Exactly 22 years to the day later, the 2004-05 Pack went to Clemson, having also dropped six of its last eight games. Prior to Saturday's contest at Littlejohn Coliseum, coach Herb Sendek reminded his team of how the famed `Cardiac Pack' had made a Lazarus-like recovery from a sluggish January stretch. NC State's (13-7, 3-4) response was an 80-70 victory over the Tigers.
"We're really proud of our guys today," Sendek said. "We've maintained all along that we have guys with great character and that's what it takes to respond the way they have this week. Our guys really came back with tremendous focus and determination, and did a terrific job today."
Continuing his excellence on the road, guard Engin Atsur tallied a team-leading 21 points, hitting 8-of-13 shots overall and 5-of-8 from 3-point range. Julius Hodge chipped in with 20 points, six assists and six rebounds, while Ilian Evtimov added 12 points and seven boards.
And there was also a major contribution from a guy named Tony Bethel. Working his way back from the illness that had sidelined him for five games and rendered him ineffective in several others, the junior guard buried 4-of-5 shots from the arc, scoring 14 points. Bethel's long-range basket from the left corner with 11:23 remaining in the first half was his first field goal since he put up 15 points against BYU back on December 21st.
"Yes it did," the Georgetown transfer answered when asked if it had seemed like forever since he had scored points. "It seemed like I had sat out another year. I just kept my head up, my hopes high and kept my faith."
Bethel and the rest of his teammates found Clemson's sagging man-to-man defense to their liking, burying 13-of-20 shots from downtown and hitting 62.8 percent (27-of-43) overall. In fact, the Pack was better from 3-point range than it was from the free throw line, where it converted on 13-of-21 shots.
"Our guys really looked for each other and played unselfishly," said Sendek. "They moved the basketball and then we finished the job by making shots. We haven't always done that at the rate we did today. But when you take them in rhythm, and you take them within the framework of your offense, chances are that you have a better chance of making the shot."
Despite shooting a blistering 64 percent in the opening half, NC State led by only one at the break, 42-41. Clemson kept itself in the game over the opening 20 minutes by getting eight second chance points on seven offensive rebounds and by drilling 10-of-13 from the free throw line. The Wolfpack, meanwhile got only five shots from the charity stripe, making just three.
But after Clemson (10-10, 1-7) had jumped out to a 46-42 advantage over the first few minutes of the second half, the Wolfpack got hot enough to melt the snow and ice that was falling outside Littlejohn. Evtimov started the run with a long 3-pointer off of a feed from Atsur. Bethel then chimed in from the left wing, giving NC State a 48-46 lead.
By the time the dust had settled, the Wolfpack had gone on a 23-4 run, hitting 7-of-8 shots over an eight-minute period to go up 65-50. The rush also included an adjustment by Sendek on the defensive end of the floor. Turning to a 2-3 matchup zone, NC State took Clemson out of its offensive rhythm, and made it more difficult for the Tigers to get the ball inside to talented center Sherrod Ford. Although Ford finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds, he rarely touched the ball while the Pack was pushing its lead out to double digits.
"They were frustrated [by the zone]," said Bethel. "They really didn't know what we were in and they were running their man plays against our zone."
But Clemson wasn't done, not after NC State turned the ball over three times in four possessions. Getting a 3 from guard Shawan Robinson, a hook in close by Ford, a layup from Cliff Hammonds, and a runner by Olu Babalola, the Tigers scored nine straight points to cut the Wolfpack advantage down to 65-59.
Following two Hodge free throws and a backdoor layup by Bethel, Clemson got within six points again on buckets by Ford and Robinson.
Atsur then took the game in his hands and hit the dagger shot that would kill Clemson's chances. With the shot clock winding down inside five seconds, the sophomore from Istanbul, Turkey drained a 25-footer from the top of the key with 3:27 left to give NC State a 73-63 lead. From there, the Tigers would get no closer than seven as the Wolfpack made 7-of-9 free throws the rest of the way.
Just call Atsur "The King of the Road." For his career in games away from the RBC Center, he's shooting 57 percent from the floor, 55 percent from the arc and is averaging over 13 points in those 12 road games. His performance on Saturday backed up an 18-point outburst in the Pack's win at Maryland last Sunday. Atsur also has 15 assists and seven steals over his last three games.
"He just has a heart that's incredible," Sendek said of Atsur's prowess on the road. "He's a very unique person who's very focused, and very confident but in a quiet, unassuming way."
Joining Ford in double figures for Clemson were Hammonds (17) and Robinson (15). The Tigers held the upper hand in one category: rebounding. Crushing NC State on the boards 36-27, the Tigers had 13 second chance points on 16 offensive rebounds.
The winter weather outside held the crowd down to what was announced as 7,500. Prior to the game, Clemson officials announced that anyone attempting to brave the icy conditions could get into the building free of charge. The weather also affected NC State's travel plans. Instead of flying back to Raleigh on a charter, the Wolfpack was forced to make a slow bus ride home.
That left more time to savor a victory that was needed in the worst way.
