North Carolina State University Athletics
MBB Wins Second Exhibition, 85-61, Over Catawba
11/12/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BY TIM PEELER
RALEIGH, N.C. Four days away from its 2008-09 season-opener at New Orleans, the NC State men’s basketball completed its final preseason tune-up with an 85-61 victory over Catawba College Tuesday at Reynolds Coliseum.
Four Wolfpack starters, led by fast-breaking point guard Farnold Degand, scored in double figures and sophomore forward Tracy Smith came off the bench for the second consecutive exhibition game to contribute double figures.
“I think we played great,” said Degand, who had a team-high 15 points, to go with two assists and four steals. “We definitely moved the ball around. We definitely pushed the ball like coach preached to us in practice.
“I think we did a real good job.”
Degand had 11 points in the first half, including a game-opening 3-pointer. Smith and junior forward Brandon Costner had 14 points apiece and seniors Ben McCauley and Courtney Fells added 10 each.
Catawba’s Rob Fields led all scorers with 21 points.
“I thought we played a solid game,” said Wolfpack coach Sidney Lowe. “I thought our defense again was good. It enabled us to get some solid runs. Offensively, we moved the ball around real well and had some guys make some shots.”
Degand was the Pack’s top shooter, hitting seven of his eight shots. As a team, the Wolfpack made 52.2 percent of its shots and held to Catawba to just 37.9 percent. State owned the board
For the second consecutive game, NC State freshman C.J. Williams was in the starting lineup, joining Degand in the backcourt. Sophomore Javi Gonzalez came off the bench to contribute five assists and six points.
The Wolfpack players believe they are well-prepared and ready for the regular season to get started.
“I think we are ready to go,” Costner said. “We are playing very well right now. We are moving the ball a lot, getting up and down the court and rebounding the ball better than we have.
“Everybody has the right attitude and is focused on going to New Orleans.”
The players don’t even mind that it’s the first time since 1990-91 that NC State is opening the season on an opponent’s home court.
“I like going on the road, taking over other people’s territory and giving it back to them when we are done with it,” Degand said.
The Wolfpack opens the season Saturday at New Orleans in an 8 p.m. contest. The team’s home opener is slated for Nov. 22 at 7 p.m. at Reynolds Coliseum against High Point.
You may contact Tim Peeler at tim_peeler@ncsu.edu.
