Pack rocks Reynolds in second round

RALEIGH -- When N.C. State's players padded onto the Reynolds Coliseum court Friday night for warm-ups, thousands of red-clad Wolfpack fans rose and gave them a standing ovation.

Coach Sidney Lowe appeared later -- in his red coat -- and received a roaring standup cheer from the capacity crowd of 8,400. This was a resounding tribute to a resilient, underdog team that turned February frustration into a few festive days in March.

That was the mood, and the Pack once again had a "moment," not always shinning, but successful as it fended off the feisty Red Foxes of Marist 69-62 in a second-round National Invitation Tournament rumble of a game.

Reynolds, a 58-year-old museum of memories, rocked as Ben McCauley led the way with a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double. Gavin Grant and reserve Dennis Horner added 13 points each.

Things got hairy when Marist cut a 17-point Pack lead to six down the stretch. But McCauley and company refused to be out-foxed by the relentless Red Foxes.

So the Pack now travels to West Virginia Tuesday for a rematch with the Mountaineers, who dealt State a 71-60 loss in Charleston, W.Va., on Dec. 6.

This time State will have Engin Atsur (12 points), who was injured and didn't play against West Virginia in the first meeting. And this time the Pack is a different team, perhaps a bit tired, but not tired of playing and winning.

"They've taken on an attitude that they can always win," Lowe said of the Pack's state of mind. "That's pretty good for team with only one senior. They feel they can beat anyone. We were fortunate to come away with a win [Friday]."

Marist, led by Will Whittington (18 points) and directed by talented point guard Jared Jordan, was menacing with a no-quit attitude. But all State's starters reached double figures, Horner added a big boost off the bench, and the raucous fans added energy -- kind of like old times.

"It was fantastic how loud the fans got,'' McCauley said. "It was truly amazing. And you think about all the championship teams that played in here."

Grant, who gathered a game-high 12 rebounds to go along with his 13 points, also had an ear drum-rattling experience.

"I've never seen it that loud in an arena, especially when they [Marist] were shooting those two technical fouls,'' said Grant, whose teammates Brandon Costner and Horner were hit with technicals.

After falling behind 11-4 at the start, Horner came in and turned into Dennis the Menace in the eyes of the Red Foxes. He scored seven points in a run that pushed State toward a 33-19 halftime lead.

The Pack also dug in on defense, holding Marist to 24 percent shooting in the first half and 30.2 percent for the game. Grant limited the dangerous Whittington to 5-for-16 from the floor. Fells, with his length, harried Jordan (3-for-13).

But in the second half, State experienced a sloppy spell (12 turnovers the final 20 minutes) and the Red Foxes pulled to within six (49-43) with less than six minutes remaining.

About that time Lowe wiped his forehead with a towel. And a fan in the rabid student section raised a sign that read: "Survive and Advance," the March mantra of former N.C. State coach Jim Valvano when talking about tournament play.

After a Wolfpack timeout, Atsur hit a free throw, Grant a short jumper and Costner added two foul shots and a turnaround basket. State suddenly bolted back to an 11-point lead but still had to weather another Marist charge.

As a result, Lowe said he didn't have time to get caught up in nostalgia, to think about his 1983 team's glory days in Reynolds.

"This was tough,'' he said. "They were good. Our crowd kept us going. It's where it all happened for me. Anybody will tell you this is one of the toughest places in the country to play. It's crazy."

The Pack made Lowe the fourth first-year State coach to achieve a 20-win season (20-15).

And it's not over yet.

Looking toward West Virginia, Lowe said, "I think we are better now. This time we'll have Engin."