GameDay Live Blog/Open Thread: State at Georgia Tech
ATLANTA -- It's going to be up to "Magnificent Seven" again today at Georgia Tech for the NC State basketball team to extend its winning streak to four and exact some badly-needed revenge on the Yellow Jackets.
No, Yul Brenner, Steve McQueen and Charles Bronson won't be in uniform today for coach Kevin Keatts' team.
But then, neither will Manny Bates nor Pat Andree.
Both players took some shots before the game with their teammates, but aren't ready to return -- meaning that the same seven scholarship palyers that pulled State through to a come-from-behind victory at Virginia on Monday will have to get it done again this afternoon at McCamish Pavillion.
The key today, besides the obvious of not having D.J. Funderburk foul out with 6:48 still to play again, is containing Tech big man James Banks III. The 6-foot-10 senior has scored the winning basket on his team's final possession each of the last two times these teams have met -- including an 82-81 overtime decision at PNC Arena on Nov. 6.
Banks is averaging 20 points per game against the Wolfpack in his career, 10 points more than he scores against everybody else.
As we wait for things to get started, here are some reading suggestions to pass the time:
Georgia Tech: Chance for Redemption or Just Another Game?
Behind Enemy Lines: Five Questions for SI All Yellow Jackets
Wolfpack Tipoff: Game 20, At Georgia Tech
NC State AD Mourns The Loss of Father, Former ACC Commissioner
Bates, Andree Out for Georgia Tech
Bill Covington Jr., Brian O'Connell and Justin Porterfield are the men in stripes.
Starting five for the Wolfpack: Markell Johnson, CJ Bryce, Devon Daniels, Jericole Hellems, D.J. Funderburk.
FIRST HALF
Markell Johnson is wearing a t-shirt under his uniform jersey today … That's a different look for him. ...
Both teams flirt with the the shot clock on their first possession. State got a long heave from Johnson that missed off. Tech was called for a 30-second violation. Hope it's not going to be one of those kind of games ...
Two quick fouls on State -- one on Bryce, one on Daniels -- in the first two minutes. Not the best thing for a team with limited numbers ...
And now Hellems loses his man on an inbound play, gives up a layup and commits a foul. ...5-0 Tech
Tech's Moses Wright comes up limping after a rebound and gets a whistle.
First TV timeout … Tech 8, State 3
State struggling trying to figure out Tech's zone while playing little to no defense on the other end … Keatts wants time. Yellow Jackets lead 15-5
Two fouls on Bryce ...
Sorry for the lack of updates. The wifi here at Georgia Tech is as terrible as NC State has been thus far ...
Braxton Beverly has scored State's last two baskets, both on dribble penetration. Wolfpack picking up fullcourt. ...
Now Funderburk scores from close range -- 6-0 run brings State back to within 19-14. Tech timeout ...
State is only shooting 30 percent so far, but far more troubling is the sloppy passing and decision making. Wolfpack has turned it over six times so far ...
Devon Daniels with a first half dunk
Brett Davis/USAToday sports
Johnson to the rack and scoring for the second straight possession, The first of them put him over the 1,000-point mark for his career. The senior guard is the 53rd player in program history to score 1,000 points and just the fourth to record 1,000 points, 500 assists and 125 steals in their career. ...
Wolfpack has now made five straight shots and is back to within 28-26 at the under 4 TV timeout ...
Two Johnson free throws ... tied at 28 ...
Now a Johnson with a baseline drive and an over the head layup ... First Wolfpack lead of the night at 30-28. Johnson has scored his team's last eight points ...
Now Danny Dixon with a tipin off transition. ... 10-0 State run ... four point State lead
Wolfpack up by one after 20 minutes, which is quite an accomplishment since it trailed by as many as 10 early ...
Halftime: State 32, Tech 31
SECOND HALF
State has led each of the last four games it has played against Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets have gone on to win each of the previous three ...
Good start to the half as Johnson gets a steal and scores in transition as he's fouled by Banks. Johnson is the game's leading scorer with 14 ...
Daniels picks up his third foul in the first minute of the half ... Foul trouble will likely be an issue before this one is over. Bryce, Hellems and Beverly have two each ...
Daniels with a charge. That's four. Here we go ...
Johnson is REALLY asserting himself offensively. He's 1 of 5 from 3-point range (missing his last four), but he's attacking the basket aggressively and either scoring or getting fouled. He's got 15 points and will have a pair of free throws when play resumes ...
Markell Johnson surpassed the 1,000-career point mark in today's game
Brett Davis/USAToday sports
Under 16 TV timeout: State 41, Tech 40
Hellems hits the side of the backboard with a 3, then Beverly fires up an airball ... but it all works out because Hellems forced a turnover on the second rebound and Johnson drains a 3. State up 45-41 ...
And just like that, Tech goes on a 6-0 run, takes the lead and gets the crowd back into it ...
Under 12 TV timeout: State 47, Tech 47
Daniels back in with four fouls ... 11:13 left. We'll see if he lasts longer than Funderburk did at UVA on Monday ...
Bryce now has 3 ...
Daniels gets hammered on the way to the basket. No call. The inconsistency of ACC officiating this season has been glaring ...
Bryce called for his fourth foul ... a ticky tack touch foul 35 feet from the basket ... I rest my case ...
Hellems is called for his third and Keatts has some words with the officials during the TV time out. ...
Time for one of the time-honored traditions of the ACC ... Georgia Tech band playing the Budweiser theme song! Remember, when you say Budweiser, you've said it all!
Under 8 TV timeout: State 51, Tech 49
Daniels with a tough baseline jumper falling out of bounds at the shot clock buzzer ... Wolfpack lead now 53-50 ...
State has held Tech without a field goal for the last four minutes ...
Four on Hellems ... third Wolfpack play with four ... 5:54 left ... Three on Funderburk and Beverly, as well ..
Shot clock violation on State ... Wolfpack has now gone 2:26 without scoring ...
Final TV timeout: State 55, Tech 54
Banks with a tip-in, amazingly, only his second basket of the day ... Tech back in the lead by 1 ...
CJ Bryce, on the other hand, still hasn't scored ...
Funderburk hammered at the rim. No call. Alvarez with a layup..... State down by 3
Believe it or not, the first player to foul out today is a Yellow Jacket. Khalid Moore ... Daniels to the line for two with 1:30 left Misses the first. makes the second. Tech 58, State 56 ...
Funderburk has four now ...
Cole misses two free throws. State with the ball and a chance to tie ... And Beverly does with 44.2 seconds left. Tech fans have been taunting Beverly all game with chants of "airball," but he just quieted them with a clutch floater. ... 58 all.
Banks with a tip-in ... of course.
Given the way the last two games between these teams have ended … you kind of feel like the basketball gods owe State a 3-pointer at the buzzer here ...
19.9 seconds left. State with the ball ...
Bryce gets the ball taken away by Alvarado right in front of the bench. Bryce called for his fifth ... 8.4 seconds left. Keatts nearly came out of his jacket. ...
Was there a foul? You decide ...
Alvarado makes both shots ... game set and match.
Just for good measure, Alvarado steals from Johnson and goes in for a layup at the buzzer ..
Final: Tech 64, State 58
