North Carolina State University Athletics
MBB Host Non-Conference Tilt on Saturday
1/29/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
NOTE TO FANS: With the threat of a winter storm this weekend, both teams and the officials will all be in the Raleigh area Friday night, so the game is planned to go on as scheduled. As a service to NC State fans, the live video broadcast of the game will be available FREE of charge through Pack Pass.
NC State Hosts NC Central: NC State will step out of conference play this weekend, as the Pack will host NC Central on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at the RBC Center. The two teams have met the past two seasons, with NC State winning each time by an average of 26.5 points.
The game will be broadcasted on GoPack.com's Pack Pass.
The Series Versus NC Central: This will be only the third time the two schools have met. NC State downed NC Central in 2008, 54-29, and again last season, 87-59. Both games have been played at the RBC Center.
Coaches Vs. Cancer: This weekend is the annual Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers awareness weekend, and the NC State staff will once again be wearing sneakers to show support for the program. Suits and Sneakers will unite coaches from across the country in the common effort to raise cancer awareness in their communities.
RBC Center Dominance Against Non-Conference Foes: NC State's home court has not been welcoming to non-conference opponents since the RBC Center opened for the 1999-2000 season, as the Pack has posted an 83-11 (.883) record in such games. Under Coach Lowe, the Pack has posted a 27-5 (.844) mark against non-conference opponents at home, losing only to No. 10 Alabama in 2007, New Orleans in 2008, a last second defeat to Marquette last season, and Northwestern and Florida this year.
NC State has been even more impressive at home against against non-conference opponents from the state of North Carolina. The Wolfpack has won the last 22 games against in-state non-conference foes at the RBC Center, and 24 of 25 overall at the RBC Center, only losing in the 2000-01 season to Charlotte.
Last Season Versus NC Central: Playing in its final non-conference game of the season, NC State downed NC Central 87-59 at the RBC Center on February 3. After falling behind 10-2 to start the game, the Pack went on a 20-3 run and never lost the lead. Brandon Costner (25 points, 13 rebounds) and Ben McCauley (17 points, 12 rebounds) each recorded a double-double. The Pack was dominate in the boards, holding a 52-14 advantage for the game, including 19 on the offensive end. NC State also shot well from the field, hitting 57.9 percent (33-57) of its shots.
Last Time Out for NC State: NC State went over eight minutes without a point in the second half, as North Carolina came away with a 77-63 win at the RBC Center on Tuesday. The Pack put together a 20-6 run wrapped around halftime, including a 10-1 spurt to open the second half, as NC State captured a 43-38 lead with 17:04 left. The Pack then missed 17 of its next 18 shots, and UNC went on a 18-2 run to capture the lead for good. For the second straight game, NC State's opponent shot over 50.0 percent from the field, as UNC shot 50.9 percent (29-57), including 57.7 percent (15-26) in the second half. Tracy Smith led the Pack with 20 points, while Javier Gonzalez had 19, including scoring 15 of NC State's 18 points during one stretch.
Limiting Turnovers: NC State has taken care of the ball lately, as the Pack has committed 11 turnovers or less in six of the last seven games (the only game above that mark was 18 turnovers in the win at No. 25 Florida State), and three games were under 10 turnovers.
Over the last four games, NC State has committed just 42 total turnovers with no more than 11 in each game. This is the longest streak with 11 or less turnovers in four straight games since the end of the 2004-05 season when NC State went five straight games at 11 or less.
In the Pack's upset win over No. 7 Duke, the three primary ball handlers, Farnold Degand, Javier Gonzalez, Julius Mays, combined for just 3 turnovers in 74 combined minutes of play while dishing out 14 assists. At Maryland, NC State had 10 first half turnovers, but turned the ball over just once in the second half. Last time out, the Pack had just 10 turnovers against North Carolina.
