What we learned as NC State basketball overwhelmed FIU to run its record to 3-0
On a cool, rainy night, and with a late starting time, N.C. State’s game against Florida International didn’t draw a big crowd at PNC Arena.
But if the turnout was light Tuesday — and it was — the action was nonstop as the Wolfpack breezed to a 107-74 win.
There was so much speed and quickness on the court that it was hard keeping up with the baskets and assists, 3-pointers and fast breaks.
And fouls and turnovers. There were a lot of those, too.
After playing a tight game in beating Campbell, where the Camels played a Princeton offense and every possession was a slow-waltz strain, the Pack (3-0) enjoyed itself on this night. Both teams extended their man-to-man pressure, creating a frenetic pace, and no one was hesitant in taking a shot.
“I thought we did a tremendous job of playing hard,” NCSU coach Kevin Keatts said. “Everything didn’t go well, we didn’t make every shot, even though sometimes it felt like we had stretches where we didn’t miss. But everybody’s effort was so hard. It was a good team win.”
What was learned about the Pack in its third game?
Smith doesn’t have to be the star
On a night when sophomore Terquavion Smith was missing his outside touch, Jarkel Joiner and Casey Morsell took over the brunt of the Wolfpack offense, each scoring 26 points.
“Jarkel was fabulous,” Keatts said. “When we needed him he got really hot.”
Joiner had 21 points in the opening half, hitting all five 3-pointers and capping it off with a 3 at the buzzer that had the point guard dancing off the court. He topped his career high, set at Ole Miss two seasons ago, with six 3’s.
Morsell was, in a word, solid. The senior guard had 14 points in the first half, draining all four of his 3-point shots and playing with some patience in a game where a lot of players had quick trigger fingers shooting. His 26 points and six 3’s were career highs.
“I was so proud of Casey,” Keatts said, “He really shot the ball, he ran the floor, he did some good stuff.”
Smith, averaging 22.5 points after the first two games, missed five of seven shots and was 0-4 on 3-pointers in the opening half, when he also had a technical foul. He finally had a 3-pointer drop early in the second half and finished with 15 points — 1-for-8 on 3’s -- while coming up with a team-high six steals.
“I don’t worry about him,” Keatts said. “He’ll be fine. He still did a great job of affecting the game.”
With Joiner and Morsell combining to hit 12 of 15 shots from 3-point range, the Pack closed 15-of-33 on 3’s.
“I felt good,” Morsell said. “I just wanted to focus in on making the shots I’m supposed to make. They were open and I just had to shoot with confidence.”
Pack can turn to its bench
But the Pack got a little from a lot of players in building a 57-32 halftime lead.
In one first-half sequence, the Pack’s Ernest Ross swatted down an FIU shot, leading to a fast-break score by Breon Pass that he turned into a three-point play.
Junior forward Greg Gantt, who did not play in the first two games, got some playing time. So did freshman guard LJ Thomas, who knocked down a 3 and then had a layup for five quick points in the first half.
Thomas, who had 12 points in 12 minutes, added another 3 in the second half and later went skidding across the floor diving for a loose ball — a rarity this night when others looked to scoop and score.
“He’s getting better,” Keatts said. “He’s going to be in the mix, coming in and being able to play. I like him and Breon both coming in as guards off the bench and both giving us a lift on both ends of the floor.”
The Wolfpack played nearly all of the first half without forward Jack Clark, who picked up two early fouls. Center Dusan Mahorcic gave the Pack an inside presence with his bullish play and had 12 points.
FIU (2-1) got 19 points from sophomore guard Denver Jones and 14 from John Williams Jr.
This story was originally published November 15, 2022 at 11:02 PM.
