Gameday Live Blog/Open Thread: State at Boston College
Today's game at Boston College isn't one that will necessarily help NC State's postseason resume. But a loss to the Eagles, who are currently No. 149 in the NET rankings, could severly damage the Wolfpack's chance of getting back to the NCAA tournament after missing out a year ago.
This is a game State should win. And needs to win.
But it's also the kind of game and situation in which the Wolfpack has traditionally not won.
In order to break with that tradition and extend its winning streak to three -- both overall and against the Eagles -- coach Kevin Keatts' team needs to continue shooting the ball as well as it has in its previous two games, force turnovers and not let BC in general and Steffon Mitchell in particular gain traction on the boards.
In the interest of full disclosure, I am not not in Chestnut Hill for today's game. I'll be watching along on TV just like you. But I'll be providing live updates and analysis throughout the game, so check back here frequently. And if you've got opinions of your own, hit the "Follow" button in the top right corner of this paige and leave them in our comments section!
FIRST HALF
State down 10-4 early. Knowing The Wolfpack’s history in games like this, the last thing it needs is a hole to have to dig out of.
First TV timeout, State is 2 for its first 8 from the floor, BC is 4 of 6. Wolfpack has three offensive rebounds already, but had done nothing with them. ...
Johnson back in to the game at the 14:37 mark ...
State still struggling from the field and not playing much defense either. Deficit up to nine ...
Under 12 TV timeout: BC 17, State 8
Wolfpack has missed its first six 3-point attempts. Looked like the hot shooting streak of the past two games is officially over ...
They’re 1 of 8 now. The fact that they’ve taken eight 3-pointers already is a bad sign. Wolfpack needs to lol inside more. ...
State doesn't play zone much, but it's definitely helped change the momentum of this one. Daniels finally gets on the scoreboard with five straight points to get the Wolfpack back to within five ...
But just that quick, BC scores two quick ones and BC extends it back to 32-23 and Keatts wants timeout after Hellems turnover that leads to an easy basket ...
The Wolfpack, however, answers back with a couple of buckets of its own and is back to within five at the under 4 TV timeout. It's an 11-4 state run, cutting the deficit to 32-27 ...
State has made its last five field goal attempts, but is still shooting just 38 percent for the game ...
Funderburk limping off the court with some kind of physical issue. Had had one of those in awhile. Been that kind of season ...
Back to back BC treys and it's an 11-point game again. That's five 3-pointers for the Eagles. That's one way to beat a zone ...
Three fouls on Steffon Mitchell ...
Bryce with a steal and layup and it's down to five again ...
Funderburk is back in. Good news for the Wolfpack ...
Daniels wanted a foul on that final possession, but didn't get the call. State recovered from an awful start, but still has work to do ...
Halftime: BC 40, State 33
SECOND HALF
These next 20 minutes will detemine whether this is a different NC State team or if it's the same old #Wolfpacksh .... well, you know the hashtag. This is a game the Wolfpack needs to win. ...
This is only the second time BC has shot 50 percent in a half in an ACC game this season ... And the Eagles get their first one of the second half off a turnover. ...
Now Johnson returns the favor with a steal and a dunk to get it back to five. Johnson played only six minutes in the first half. Not sure why. But State needs him on the court and being productive in the second half to have any chance at winning this ...
Five points is the stumbling block for the Wolfpack. That's as close as it can seem to get right now ... Playing a little defense might help get over the hump ...
That's three fouls on Johnson ...
That extended bounce pass in transition is rapidly becoming Markell's trademark move ... back to five again ...
Under 16 TV timeout: BC 48, State 41
BC's Mitchell has four fouls ... but Johnson now has four for the Wolfpack ... Clear advantage to the Eagles on that tradeoff ...
How is that an offensive foul? Popovich, one, didn't have position and two, stuck his chest out to initiate contact. And now Popovich makes things worse with basket that pushes the deficit back to double figures ...
Without Johnson, State's halfcourt offense is extremely stagnant. Wolfpack is in serious trouble ...
Under 12 TV timeout: BC 53, State 45
Hellems with a three-point play and it's back to five ... again. Hellems leads State with 13 points ...
But again, Wolfpack gives up a 3 and can't get any closer. Heath now has three treys for BC ...
Now Daniels with a conventional three-point play ... State seems to have figured things out offensively. But if it can't get a stop, it doesn't matter ...
State saved by the bell, or in this case, the buzzer on that possession, but Bryce misses a trey with a chance to cut it below 5 ...
Beverly makes only one of two free throws, but the Wolfpack has at least finally gotten over the five-point hump. It's 56-52. That's nice, but there's still a more important hump State needs to negotiate ... under nine minutes remaining ...
BC is trying hard to let the Wolfpack have this. Bryce with a mid-range jumper from the dead spot in the zone and it's three-point deficit ...
Well, the offensive foul call on Funderburk earlier was a terrible one. But that offensive foul call on BC"s Jarius Hamilton was just as awful. State will take it ...
Under 8 TV timeout ... Eagles 57, Wolfpack 54
Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers ...
Might be time to roll the dies and get Johnson back in there. ...
And there's Markell ...
And Johnson makes an immediate impact, getting the ball upcourt in a hurry ... and Hellems with a great pass to Funderburk for the dunk and it's a two-point game. BC timeout ...
State with a chance to tie or lead ... But misses twice ...
Former Dukie Derryck Thornton killing State right now. He's got 21 and is 10 of 10 from the line ...
You can't afford to give away scoring opportunities in this situation ... and Bryce misses the first of two free throws ...
Bates has at least six blocks tonight. They've only given him credit for three ...
Daniels three ... tied at 64
Johnson with a spin move and a layup and just like that, it's an 8-2 run and the Wolfpack has its first lead since the opening minutes. State up 66-64 with 3:11 left ...
Final TV timeout ...
Wolfpack can't stand prosperity ... BC back on top 67-66 ...
Every possession is a big one from here on out ... and Hellems misses a 3. ...
State is just 2 of 18 from 3-point range tonight ...
And now Johnson turns it over, giving BC a runout layup ... three-point game.
Hellems with a basket to cut it back to 1 ... 49.1 seconds left ....
Goodbye ,,, turnover and BC dunk makes it 71-68 ... Keatts very upset. He thinks Mitchell stepped out of bounds on that transition. Sure looked like it. Can they review this???
They are.
This should be reversed. Points taken off the board and State getting possession back down only one ...
Terrible final possession. Terrible non call ... Terrible loss for NC State ...
Final: BC 71, State 68
