Mays is Pack's best bet at point guard

RALEIGH -- Julius Mays came out to start the second half for N.C. State on Tuesday and was difficult to remove from the lineup. That may be the case for the rest of the season as well.

The 78-65 loss to Florida State dropped the Wolfpack to 0-2 in the ACC, which has left State searching for improvement in many areas. Point guard, perennially, is one of them.

Mays may not be the final answer in that department, but he may be the closest State is going to get.

With Mays and fellow freshman C.J. Williams out to start the second half, State quickly turned a three-point halftime deficit into a 39-37 lead, Mays holding Florida State guard Toney Douglas scoreless in the process, one of the few times all night State could say that.

That was the start of a strong second half for Mays, who has emerged as the leader of an underwhelming group at point guard and the best potential solution to State's biggest weakness.

Farnold Degand, State's starter for much of the past two seasons when healthy, didn't play in the second half because State coach Sidney Lowe was unhappy with his play.

Javi Gonzalez, who started the final 10 games last season, turned the ball over twice in his only three minutes of action Tuesday. That prompted Lowe to hustle Mays back into the game for the duration.

Degand and Gonzalez have each started six games this season, Mays two. Degand started Tuesday, but Mays did the finishing.

Mays had a career-high 13 points, 11 of them in the second half. After playing 19 minutes against Florida and 11 minutes against Clemson -- State had 18 turnovers in both games -- he played 26 minutes Tuesday, going 5-for-8 from the floor.

Mays' ability to shoot or drive was the focal point of State's offense during the Pack's most successful stretches. The 6-foot-2 freshman from Marion, Ind., has been in and out of the lineup, but made a statement with his play against the Seminoles.

"Coming in, I was nervous," Mays said. "My first few exhibition games, I didn't play well and I turned the ball over. Now, as I get to keep playing more and playing against better competition, I'm starting to get more comfortable."

Mays still needs to work on distributing the ball -- he didn't have an assist Tuesday -- but he gives State a scoring threat with the ball in his hands and he can get the ball up the court.

After watching Degand and Gonzalez both get extended runs at the point, it's hard to believe Mays can't do better.

"He's pretty solid," Lowe said. "He's going to run your stuff for you. He's a point guard. He knows how to play the position. He's a smart player who can make a shot for you."

State played its best basketball with Brandon Costner and Ben McCauley on the bench. After they came back into the game with five minutes to play and the score tied, State scored only two more points.

Mays twice collided with Costner at the top of the key, both expecting the ball, before Lowe yanked Costner from the game. That chemistry should work itself out if Mays gets more playing time -- and he should.

Lowe mentioned twice that "we have guys who have to play well in order for us to win." Changes to the starting lineup and sub rotation -- and it was an odd rotation Tuesday, to say the least, with Dennis Horner and Thomas playing more than Costner and Tracy Smith, and Simon Harris benched completely -- could be next after a lengthy postgame meeting.

"That could happen," Lowe said. "It's hard to predict. You can't go off one game, but if it continues and changes need to be made, they will be made."

Giving Mays the starting point-guard job and letting him run with it is one change that's a no-brainer. Whether Lowe's looking to salvage this season or prepare for next season, Mays looks like the best option on both fronts.