N.C. State snaps losing streak, pulls away from Pittsburgh for ACC win
For N.C. State there is no better cure for your struggles than seeing Pittsburgh on the schedule.
The Wolfpack came into Saturday’s game losers of three of their last four games, but a meeting with the Panthers was just what the doctor ordered. N.C. State continued its recent dominance over Pittsburgh, winning 77-73, its ninth straight in the series.
“I thought it was a great team win for us,” Wolfpack coach Kevin Keatts said. “We found a way to find a win a game when we were not playing very good basketball.”
N.C. State (18-11, 9-9) came into the game having dropped two in a row. But it seems like the Panthers (15-15, 6-13) make everything better in Wolfpack Nation, even though State left the door open late for Pittsburgh to make it interesting.
Pitt’s Au’Diese Toney (game-high 24 points) hit a three from the corner, pulling the Panthers within four with 1:43 remaining. This came after N.C. State grabbed an offensive rebound, but Manny Bates turned the ball back over to Pittsburgh. Braxton Beverly saved a sure layup on other end, hustling to knock the ball out of the hands of Xavier Johnson. The Panthers’ sophomore guard missed a long jumper on the ensuing possession, giving the ball back to N.C. State with 55.2 seconds remaining.
Markell Johnson knocked down one of two free throws, putting State ahead 73-68. Trey McGowens missed two on the other end, giving the ball back to the Wolfpack. Bates, who scored a career-high 13 points, hit one from the line to seal it. His 10 rebounds also gave Bates his first career double-double.
“I love the way Manny Bates played,” Keatts said. “He was great.”
Sophomore forward Jericole Hellems was just as great for N.C. State, scoring 16 points, at one point late in the game scoring five straight to give the Wolfpack a one-point lead.
“We finished the game off strong,” Hellems said. “I think we are one of the best teams in the country when we lock in on everything. We have a lot of pieces.”
Five players scored in double figures for the Wolfpack, led by C.J. Bryce (16), 13 each for Bates and D.J. Funderburk and 10 for Markell Johnson.
The first half was forgettable for both teams. They combined for 21 turnovers in the opening 20 minutes. The Wolfpack had almost as many made field goals (12) as turnovers (11). The constant stoppage in play for turnovers, fouls and such made it hard for either team to get into a flow.
At one point N.C. State missed seven straight from the field and still trailed by just two points. That’s because over that same stretch the Panthers went on a 4:33 scoring drought. One of the lone bright spots in the first half for the Wolfpack was the freshman center Bates. Known more for his defense, Bates closed the first half with an old fashioned three-point play, and had eight points at the break. He started the game 2-for-2 for four points and three offensive rebounds.
His three-point play with one second remaining pulled N.C. State within 31-30 at the half. The Panthers missed their last four shots from the field to end the first half. Their only points in the last four minutes were three free throws from Eric Hamilton.
After starting the game 0-for-3 from the field, C.J. Bryce closed the first half by going 4-for-7, leading State with 9 at the break.
Pitt got its largest lead, 25-18, when State decided it wouldn’t play defense for three straight possessions. That led to three uncontested baskets for the Panthers, including a drive right down the lane for Xavier Johnson, who threw down a slam and stared down the Wolfpack fans behind the basket. State countered with a 7-0 run, but the rest of the half was mediocre at best.
There was a sequence early in the second half when Funderburk was fouled on a layup and was awarded a free throw after the basket. Pitt’s Justin Champagnie was called for a technical after the basket, which meant State had a golden opportunity to get some momentum. But Beverly missed both of the free throws and a jumper and the Panthers scored on the other end. In fact, Pitt scored seven in a row after the technical, somehow getting more out of it than N.C. State.
Somehow, that lit a fire under the Panthers. Pitt connected on six of its next seven shots but Hellems and Bryce got hot for the Wolfpack. The duo combined for the next 10 points for N.C. State and even though Hellems fouled out with 5:30 remaining, Bryce and company carried the torch the rest of the way.
AND ONE
Funderburk finished with old-fashioned three-point plays in the second half. His first pulled the Wolfpack within one, 44-43. His second moments later tied the game at 48 with 12:33 remaining.
PERSONAL FOUL
Jericole Hellems fouled out with 5:30 remaining in the game and the Wolfpack nursing a two-point lead. Hellems had scored five of the last two points for N.C. State and finished with 16 points.
ICYMI
The weekends hadn’t been kind to N.C. State in 2020. The Wolfpack came into Saturday’s game 1-6 on Saturday or Sunday games in the new year. Before knocking off Pitt, their lone weekend win was over Clemson on Jan. 18.
MAKING SENSE OF THE NUMBERS
9: Number of consecutive wins by N.C. State over Pittsburgh.
34: Combined number of turnovers between the two teams.
0: Number of misses by Hellems, who went a perfect 6-6 from the field, 2-2 from three and 2-2 from the foul line.
4: Points scored by Devon Daniels, ending his streak of consecutive double-digit scoring games at nine.
42.9: Pittburgh’s three-point shooting percentage. The Panthers came into the day shooting 29 percent from three.
This story was originally published February 29, 2020 at 2:36 PM.
