Wolfpack Answers the Challenge Against 'Good' FIU

State improves to 2-1 on the season with an 86-77 victory in forward D.J. Funderburk's return from suspension

NC State was left out of the NCAA tournament last March, despite a high NET ranking, because of concerns on the part of the selection committee about it strength of schedule.

Wednesday at PNC Arena, the Wolfpack played the kind of opponent that could help prevent a similar situation on this season's Selection Sunday.

Florida International isn't the type of program that will garner much national attention. But coming off a 20-win season, with a roster full of veteran players, the Panthers are the kind of mid-major team that will make the big boys work for their victories -- while at the same time, bolstering the bottom end of their strength of schedule.

FIU did just that against coach Kevin Keatts' team, pushing it for the better part of 35 minutes before State finally established control and held on for an 86-77 win.

Playing for the first time with its entire roster in uniform and available thanks to the return of suspended big man D.J. Funderburk, the Wolfpack forced 22 turnovers and got double-figure scoring fronm six of the eight players that saw action to improve to 2-1 on the new season.

"We played a good team," Keatts said after his team survived the challenge by outscoring the Panthers 46-26 in the paint and 39-10 off the bench. "I knew we were going to play a good team. I watched their Mississippi State game (also a nine-point loss) and I was a little concerned. 

"They remind me a lot of my Wilmington teams, where they're smaller and they can press and get after you. ... They put a lot of pressure on us."

In a sense, the Wolfpack faced a carbon copy of itself and for stretches Wednesday, it did didn't handle it well.

FIU (1-2) jumped out to an early 10-point lead before State finally got its feet under it and roared back late in the first half. Even after the Wolfpack managed to take the lead and gain some degree of control in the second half, it couldn't completely finish the Panthers off until the final minute.

"We just didn't know what kind of pressures they were going to throw at us," senior point guard Markell Johnson said. "We weren't on the same page offensively. That played a big part in it."

Johnson, in particular, had his problems.

After going 1 for 8 from the floor in his first game back from an ankle injury last Sunday against Detroit Mercy, the preseason All-ACC selection went just 3 of 14 (1 of 7) from the floor against FIU. 

He finished with 10 points, four assists and two steals in just under 32 minutes. But as Keatts observed afterward "Markell is not Markell right now."

On the plus side, fellow senior C.J. Bryce continues to give Keatts a steady effort, finishing with a team-leading 16 points and seven rebounds. 

Devin Daniels and graduate transfer Pat Andree contributed 14 points each, although Andree continued a pattern coming out hot early -- he hit four straight 3-pointers to help bring State back from its early deficit -- before missing all three of his second half attempts.

"I think once Pat learns to play the way we're playing, we play up and down and high tempo, he'll make those shots in the second half," Keatts said. "I'm not saying he's wearing down, but they're not going in in the second half now."

The 6-foot-10 Funderburk, meanwhile, made an impact on both ends of the floor with 11 points, two steals and two blocked shots. He also played a major role in helping the Wolfpack improve on the glass with seven rebounds -- six of which came on the offensive end.

Combined with freshman Manny Bates, who recorded season highs in both points and rebounds despite playing a season low in minutes, State's low post rotation combined for 21 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks.

"Getting (D.J.) back takes a little bit of the pressure off of Manny," Keatts said. "Whether we want to realize it or not, Manny is a freshman. We get more of a vetern guy (with D.J.) and that helps take a lot of pressure off Manny where there's so much of a learning curve right now."

Bates isn't the only one whose trying to figure things out right now. With a disjoined start to the season because of injuries, Funderburk's suspensions and attrition, the Wolfpack is still in the process of learning how to play with one another.

As far as Bryce is concerned, it's only a matter of time before the team starts playing to its full potential.

"I feel like that will come," Bryce said. "I feel like tonight we did a great job of jelling together. No pressure on anybody. Everybody will come along at their own pace and we'll be a good team this year."