GameDay Live Blog/Open Thread: State at Virginia Tech
BLACKSBURG,Va. -- The last time NC State played a basketball game against Virginia Tech, the Wolfpack scored just 24 points.
Not before the first TV timeout. Not in a half.
For the entire game.
It was a nightmare performance that saw Kevin Keatts' team set ACC records for futility both for its point total and its 16-percent shooting performance in a 47-24 loss to its ACC rival.
Granted, that game took place at PNC Arena not Cassell Coliseum -- the site of today's game. Still, this is an opportunity for the Wolfpack to exorcise that demon and get get over .500 in the ACC for the first time this season.
It won't be easy. The Hokies are a surprising 11-4 overall and 2-2 in the ACC (same as State) in its first season under new coach Mike Young. And Cassell is one of the most raucious homecourt advantages in the conference.
Making matters worse, the Wolfpack will once again be without leading scorer and rebounder C.J. Bryce. Although the redshirt senior wing went through pregame warmups, it was announced shortly before tipoff that he will miss his fourth straight game while recovering from a concussion.
First half
Markell Johnson, Braxton Beverly, Devon Daniels, Jericole Hellems and Manny Bates to start for State.
First possession of the game and Manny Bates already has his first block … and now Braxton Beverly has his first 3-pointer …. That's one more than he had in nine attempts last year against the Hokies ...
And now Hellems hits a 3, Daniels kisses one off the glass and Bates gets an alleyoop slam off transition from Daniels. State off to a strong start, scoring the first 10 points. Quick Hokies timeout ...
What a difference a year makes, huh?
Tech answers with 12 straight points to take the lead. Game on ...
It's raining threes here in Blacksburg ... The teams have combined for seven already and are both making better than 50 percent from beyond the arc. And Pat Andree was just fouled attempting one. He'll be on the line for three free throws when play resumes ...
First TV timeout: Tech 18, State 15
Uh oh ... perhaps a bad omen for the Wolfpack. Great defense for 29 seconds. Tech's Jalen Cone 30 feet from the basket. Everything looking good until Cone -- a freshman from Walkerstown, NC near Winston-Salem -- drains it at the shot clock buzzer. ...
Whoever had the 7:42 mark of the first half for State to hit 24 points … you win the pool. Hellems with a trey and the Wolfpack has matched its point total from last year ...
Under 8 TV timeout: Tech 26, State 24
Bates in with 5:35 left in the half. First time today he and Funderburk are on the court together. This is the lineup that worked so well in the second half against Notre Dame on Wednesday ...
Since going 3 of 7 from beyond the arc against Auburn on Dec. 18, Andree has made only 3 of his last 22 3-point attempts. He's missed both so far today ...
The Wolfpack has cooled off since its hot start. State is shooting just 38.5 percent overall (10 of 26) and is 4 of 13 on 3-pointers. Tech, which is one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the ACC is 6 of 12 from long range ...
Under 4 TV timeout: tech 33, State 28
Hokies are up 38-28 … 20 point swing since the Wolfpack's 10-0 run to start the game ...
Andree finally hits a three from the right corner to get State back to within 38-33 ...
Halftime: State trails by seven 40-33
Second half
Same five as started the game for the Wolfpack in the second half ...
Beverly fouls Nahiem Allyne on a 3-point shot. What's worse, it's his fourth foul. Already shorthanded, State is going to have even less bench help for the majority of this final half ...
Under 16 TV timeout: Tech 44, State 39
Virginia Tech is 1 of its first 11 from the floor to stat the second half ... Hokies now 2 of 16 .. Funderburk dunk gets the Wolfpack back to within 1 at 48-45 ...
Terrible possession there by State. Two offensive rebounds, but all three shots were 3-pointers. All misses. State is 0 for 5 from distance this half. Take it to the basket ...
Under 12 TV timeout: Tech 48, State 45
Beverly back on the floor with his four fouls ...
A lot of misses around the rim for both teams ...
Tech has no answers for Funderburk inside. He's got 13 points ... State needs to keep feeding him in there as much as possible instead of continuing to hoist up 3s ... Like that ... He's got 15 now. Johnson has nine assists ...
Under 8 TV timeout: Hokies 54, Wolfpack 49
Johnson takes an ill-advised step-back 3 (his specialty lately), misses, Tech gets a runout dunk and expands is least to 59-52 with 6:16. Needless to say, Keatts isn't pleased. He calls timeout ...
Two big guys on the floor, no boxout ... Tech with a second chance basket up by 11 and now with possession with 4:30 left. Not looking good for the Wolfpack ...
It's been more than three minutes since State has scored. Hokies on an 11-0 run and it's 66-52 with 4:04 left. Opposite of the Notre Dame game. Wolfpack sputtering to the finish here ...
One step forward, one step back for Markell Johnson. He's 2 of 12 from the floor 1 of 6 on 3-pointers and has four turnovers to go with his nine assists ... Make that five turnovers, fourth time this season he's had at least that many. ...
Hellems' 3-pointer goes 3/4s of the way down and then comes back out. One of those days for State, apparently ...
Andree three cuts it to 66-58 with 2:37 left. Keatts uses his last timeout. ...
Wolfpack had its chances, but as was the case at Clemson, simply didn't play well enough to win on the road in the ACC and falls to 11-5 overall, 2-3 in the league.
Final: Tech 72, State 58
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