Foul trouble limited N.C. State forward C.J. Leslie to eight minutes in the first half Tuesday. That was one way to keep Leslie, who has had dehydration and cramping issues all season, fresh for the second half. Leslie scored six of State's first eight points, so he was missed as the Bonnies took a 39-37 lead at the half.
N.C. State guard Alex Johnson was 7-of-30 from 3-point range before Tuesday's game. A transfer from Cal State Bakersfield, Johnson hit all three of his 3-point attempts in the first half and all from behind the NBA line. Johnson can shoot from 3 - he had 452 in three seasons for the Roadrunners - but has not be able to get going yet with the Wolfpack. The set up for the Blue Cross Arena court was confusing with the old NCAA line, the new NCAA line and the NBA line all painted on the floor.
Nice bit of leadership by sophomore guard Lorenzo Brown at the nine-minute mark of the second half, leading a cheer from the N.C. State bench, high-school style, for defense. Such interest from players not in the game - while the team was struggling - was absent last season.
Two St. Bonaventure players wore the No. 20 during the game - but there is no No. 20 on the roster. Da'Quan Cook got blood on the back of his jersey, No. 43, and finished the first half in the No. 20, but he went back to No. 43 in the second half. Andrew Nicholson got blood on his No. 44 jersey, and finished the second half in the No. 20.
