Gameday Live Blog/Open Thread: State vs. Notre Dame
It's still way too early in the season for any game to be considered a must win. That having been said, it would be in NC State's best interest to put tonight's ACC matchup against Notre Dame into the "W" column.
The Wolfpack has lost two of its first three conference games, both to teams predicted to finish in the bottom third of the league. While there have been extenuating circumstances attached to both of those losses in the form of injuries and suspensions that have left coach Kevin Keatts' team shorthanded, the only thing that really matters come March are the results.
So with the most challenging portion of the schedule still to come, it's important for State to hold serve at home tonight.
For that to happen, the Wolfpack is going to have to play better defense than it did against Clemson on Saturday. The Tigers have struggled to put points on the board this season, but put up 81 against State. And they did it by hitting 3-pointers and not turning the ball over -- two things that happen to be Notre Dame's strength.
The Irish lead the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio and also feature the nation's top rebounder in 6-foot-9 senior John Mooney, who is averaging 13.5 per game. Making matters worse, the Wolfpack will once again be without leading scorer and rebounder C,J. Bryce, who is missing his third straight game with a concussion.
Pregame
State will start the same five as it did Saturday at Clemson, with Markell Johnson and Braxton Beverly in the backcourt, Devon Daniels and Jericole Hellems on the wings and Manny Bates up front. ....
The Wolfpack is going to need a more consistent effort from Markell Johnson to have any chance tonight. He's just 7 for his last 28 3-pointers, 9 of his last 26 from the free throw line and has committed four or more turnovers in five of his last six games, including a season-high six Saturday at Clemson. ...
Well, the team that never turns it over turned it over on its first possession. Good start for Wolfpack defense ...
Six-foot-7, 205-pound Jericole Hellems guarding 6-9 245-pound John Mooney is a mismatch the Irish would be wise to exploit ...
Notre Dame made 15 3-pointers in a win at Syracuse on Saturday. It has made its first two here tonight. ...
First TV timeout: Irish 12, Wolfpack 10
Johnson has hit his first two treys. Good sign for the Wolfpack ...
👌 Markell 👌
— NC State Men's Basketball (@PackMensBball) January 9, 2020
He's hit three from beyond the arc with 11 pts. on the night.
NCSU 26, ND 32 | 1H 5:15 pic.twitter.com/KPxrt59zZM
Notre Dame is 9 of its first 14 overall (64 percent) and has made all three of its 3-point attempts. State is 7 of 15 (47 percent) and 3 of 7 from beyond the arc. The Irish are outrebounding the Wolfpack 9-4 ...
Under 12 TV timeout: Notre Dame 22, State 17
Notre Dame is now 4 of 4 on 3-pointers ... Pat Andree is 0 for 2. His touch has gone south of late. He's now 2 for his last 16 from beyond the arc over his last four-plus games. ...
This has got to be something of a special night for Andree. Both his father and his brother played basketball for the Irish and his sister is currently a student there. ...
Under 8 TV timeout: Irish 28, Wolfpack 23
Johnson with a steal. That's Notre Dame's sixth turnover tonight. The Irish is averaging only nine per game this season ...
That's two possessions in a row Danny Dixon has played solid defense on Mooney and helped State get a stop. His contribution would be a huge help, considering how shorthanded the Wolfpack is ...
Prentiss Hubb is out of his mind right now ... He's made 3 of his 4 3-point attempts and has 14 of the Irish's 35 points. ...
Under four TV timeout: Notre Dame 35, State 28
Braxton Beverly is wearing some read tape around his left wrist and thumb. Wonder if that has anything to do with his recent 3-point shooting slump. And now he goes down hard taking a charge. He's still rubbing his back where he hurt it a few games ago against App State. Last thing State needs right now is another injury ...
And just like that, Markell Johnson is heading back to the locker room holding his hip. Not sure what happened, but I think he might have been involved in the collision that sent Beverly to the deck just now ...
Halftime: Notre Dame 39, NC State 34sec
Halftime
The best halftime entertainment in all of sports ... Red Panda!!!!
Second half
Johnson stayed in the locker room to stretch out his back … he's suffering from spasms … but he's back out there giving it a go in the second half ...
Notre Dame scores the first seven points of the half and extends its lead to 45-34. Keatts wants timeout. Wolfpack is in a heap of trouble ...
Three fouls on Fudnerburk ...This one is statrting to get away from the Wolfpack ...
Under 16 TV timeout: Irish 51, Wolfpack 39.
Strange turn of events there: Daniels drives to the basket and scores ... and yet State retains possession. Apparently a foul was called on Mooney. Funderburk goes to the line and makes two and it's basically a four-point play ...
Two consecutive possessions, TV Teddy misses a blatant walk by the Irish and then calls a foul on Daniels when T.J. Gibbs slips and falls ...
And now Manny Bates is down and in a lot of pain after trying to block a shot ....Hopefully it's just a cramp, but they're taking him back to the locker room ....
Bates is back on the bench … looks like it might have only been a cramp
Nice little comeback by the Wolfpack. Johnson, playing his best ball since The Citadel game despite back spasms, hits a 3, then feeds Funderburk for a layup and State is back to within 58-53 with 9 1/2 left. Irish want timeout ...
Now Hellems is holding his knee after getting knocked to the floor ...
Keatts is all over TV Teddy during the timeout. On the last possession, Funderburk got fouled three times before they finally called one. ...
Under 8 TV timeout: Notre Dame 60, State 53
Notre Dame had a serious mismatch with the 6-9 Mooney being guarded by 6-1 Johnson. But instead of taking advantage of the extras seven inches, Mooney passes to teammate Nate Laszewski for a 3-point air ball. Now Beverly hits a 3 after two straight Funderburk offensive rebounds and it's only a 2-point game ...
Funderburk has taken over here, both on the boards and going to the basket. He's playing the four with Bates also on the court and this is the most aggressive I've seen him all season. Two more free throws from the junior big man. Tied at 60.
Turnover No. 12 for the Irish (they average only nine per game). State with a chance to take the lead ...
Wolfpack had two chances to take the lead. Johnson missed a 3, then after a Daniels steal Beverly missed a 3 in transition. And to make matters worse, he rolled his ankle while landing. He's being looked at by the trainers, but is now coming back into the huddle during the timeout ...
Final TV timeout: Notre Dame 62, State 60
Johnson to the line, where he's just 9 of his last 26 .... Now 11 of 28. He makes them both and it's tied again at 62 ...
Win or lose Johnson has answered Keatts' challenge. He's willing the Wolfpack through this one ... He's got 22 points and seven assists. And only two turnovers ...
Bates misses the front end of a one-and-one (third chance for State to take a lead) and Funderburk gets called for his fourth on the rebound ... 1:58 left. Tied at 66 ...
Mooney returns the favor at the other end by missing the front end ... And now he fouls up trying to defend Funderburk on the other end.
Another chance for State to take the lead ...
Funderburk converts. He's got 16 points and nine rebounds. Wolfpack leads 68-66 ...
And now a Hellems steal and Johnson with a tough drive and scoop in traffic 70-66 ...
Johnson with 24 points and was a man down the stretch. Funderburk with 16 and 10 … State battles back from 11 down in the second half to get an absolutely huge ACC win
Final: State 73, Notre Dame 68
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