North Carolina State University Athletics
Second Half Propels Pack to Victory, 76-41
11/6/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BY BRANDON YOPP
RALEIGH, N.C. The offense didn’t sizzle in the first half like it did against Barton College, but Sidney Lowe’s NC State squad shrugged off its somewhat sluggish start and more than made up for it in the second half. The Pack topped UNC Pembroke, 76-41, on Tuesday night at the RBC Center in its final exhibition prior to the beginning of the regular season.
J.J. Hickson (11), Brandon Costner (10) and Gavin Grant (10) all offered double-digit scoring performances, and Trevor Ferguson drained three three-point baskets in 24 sound minutes of action off the bench.
“I was pleased with our second half,” said Lowe. “The way we came out in the half, especially defensively holding them to 19 points.”
NC State got off to a rather slow start, entering the locker room at the half leading just 32-22, shooting 50 percent from the field, including a perfect 4-for-4 effort from new big man Hickson. The Wolfpack defense held the Braves to a 34.8 percent shooting clip from the field, forcing seven turnovers. Ball handling, however, also escaped NC State at times in the opening half, resulting in eight turnovers.
“We missed some open shots, and we have to knock those down,” said Farnold Degand.
As has become the norm in the Lowe era, adjustments were made in the locker room at the half, and State returned to the court with a crisper, cleaner effort the second time around, allowing UNC Pembroke just 19 points, and turning the ball over just three times.
“We weren’t getting the ball inside enough in the first half,” said Trevor Ferguson. “Coach Lowe made that an emphasis at halftime that we needed to work inside-out. The first couple of plays [of the second half], Brandon made some great passes inside to J.J. and things opened up.”
A Jonathan Hart dunk cut State’s lead to 38-26 with 16:16 left to play, but Gavin Grant answered with a three-pointer in front of the State bench. The Pack went on to score six more consecutively, increasing its lead to 21 before UNC Pembroke found the net again.
Grant brought the crowd of 7,738 to its feet with a steal at 12:35, which he capped off with a reverse windmill dunk at the opposite end of the floor. From that point forward, momentum never seemed to be in question.
Coach Lowe trotted out a large lineup at times, with Grant at the two, Costner at the three, and Hickson and Ben McCauley both occupying spots on the floor.
“That’s something that coach talks about,” said Grant. “It’s fun out there. I think it’s kind of intimidating.”
As far as progression goes, the personnel seems to think that things are moving along just fine.
“I think its going well,” said Grant. “The young guys are coming along real well.”
“We’ve just got to continue with the same intensity on defense,” said Ferguson. “That’s the biggest area that we need to stay concentrated on. The offense is going to be fine, and the shots are going to fall.”
If the defensive performance in the second half offers a glimpse of things to come, staying concentrated doesn’t seem like it’ll be a problem.
The Pack will open the 2007-08 season next Thursday, Nov. 15 against William & Mary at the RBC Center. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.
The season-opener with the Tribe will be broadcast live online via ACC Select. Click here for more information.
Brian Reinhardt contributed to this report.
