Wolfpack Tipoff: Game 3, Florida International
NC State (1-1, 0-1 ACC) vs. Florida International (1-1)
PNC Arena (19,772)
9 p.m., Fox Sports South (PxP: Evan Lepler; Analyst: Cory Alexander)
Streaming: ACCNetwork Extra; Live stats: GoPack.com
Series history: State leads 2-0 (1-0 at PNC)
Last meeting: State 80, FIU 69 at Reynolds Coliseum, Nov. 23, 1991
Most recent game: State beat Detroit Mercy 84-65; FIU beat Ave Maria 101-59
BetOnline line: State minus 16 1/2 | Over/Under 161
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
"I want to do a better job rebounding the basketball. I thought we gave up too many second and third shots. That being said, we'll go from game-to-game. I want to see improvement the next time we play Wednesday (against Florida International) .. and by the time we get to the next ACC game (on Dec. 7 at Wake Forest) we''ll have shored up in a number of areas." Coach Kevin Keatts
“You all saw it. Just having his presence and the way he can drive and distribute even when he’s not scoring. We all know that he’s capable of scoring whenever he wants to and whenever he’s feeling it. Just having him back out there running the one and running the show and finding everybody is great that we got that back.” Braxton Beverly on teammate Markell Johnson
PROJECTED STARTERS
| NC STATE | Stats | FIU | Stats | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Markell Johnson | 6-1 Senior | 3.0 ppg 7.0 rpg 10.0 apg | Antonio Daye Jr. | 6-1 Sophomore | 7.5 ppg 6.0 apg |
Braxton Beverly | 6-0 Junior | 17.0 ppg, 3.0 apg | Tevin Brewer | 5-8 Junior | 7.0 ppg 6.0 apg |
C.J. Bryce | 6-5 Redshirt Senior | 21.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg | Devon Andrews | 6-6 Redshirt Senior | 15.5 ppg 2.5 rpg |
Jericole Hellems | 6-7 Sophomore | 11.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg | Trejon Jacob | 6-5 Junior | 10.0 ppg 4.0 rpg |
Manny Bates | 6-10 Redshirt Freshman | 5.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 6.0 bpg | Osaghae Osasumwen | 6-9 Senior | 12,0 ppg 5.5 rpg |
NOTABLE
Braxton Beverly posted career highs of 23 points and six 3-pointers in Sunday's win against Detroit Mercy. The junior guard is shooting 58.3 percent from beyond the arc through the season's first two games, ranking him third in the ACC. His 3.5 3-pointers per game is the fourth-best average in the conference. ...
C.J. Bryce added 19 points in the win over the Titans and is averaging 21.5 points per game this season. His .679 field goal percentage (19-of-28) is the third best in the ACC. ...
Redshirt freshman Manny Bates has 12 blocked shots in the first two games of this Wolfpack career. He had five in his debut against Georgia Tech last Tuesday and seven against Detroit Mercy on Sunday. The seven blocked shots are the most by an ACC player this season and tie for the sixth-most in a single game in program history. Bates currently ranks third in the NCAA in blocked shots per game (6.0) ...
State has won 33 of its last 34 non-conference games at PNC Arena. The Pack is 18-1 in non-conference home games at PNC Arena under head coach Kevin Keatts. The only loss in that stretch came against UNC Greensboro in 2017. ...
Florida International's Osasumwen Osaghae is averaging 5.5 blocked shots in the season't first two games
Steve Mitchell/USAToday sports
Wednesday’s game will feature two of the best shot blockers in the country through the first week of the season. Bates ranks third in the nation with 12 blocks (6.0 bpg) while FIU’s Osasumwen Osaghae ranked fourth with 11 blocks (5.5 bpg).
State and FIU were two of the highest scoring teams in the country last season. The Golden Panthers averaged 82.3 points per game last season to rank 16th among Division l schools, while the Pack averaged 80.1 points per game to rank 29th ...
FIU led all Dl teams in steals per game (10.6) and turnover margin (+5.6) last season. NC State led the ACC and was 25th in the NCAA in turnover margin last season (3.1) and also ranked among conference leaders in steals per game (7.1). This season NC State is plus-9 in turnover margin through two games and is averaging 5.0 steals per game. FIU is plus-15 in turnover margin and has 26 steals in two games. ...
The Golden Eagles' loss this season came by eight points at Mississippi State.
