State Offense Inept In 70-54 Loss To Clemson

College Basketball

State Offense Inept In 70-54 Loss To Clemson

Jan 15, 2008

comments

POST

CLEMSON, S.C. — Coach Lowe said he didn't want to use Gavin Grant or Courtney Fells at point guard yet, but in State's 70-54 loss to Clemson on Tuesday night he used them both - that is how bad the situation at the one spot has gotten for N.C. State.

Marques Johnson got the start at the point for the Pack, but was ineffective in 20 scoreless minutes of playing time, finishing with just four assists and four turnovers. Johnson's backup, Javier Gonzalez, was even worse, as he tallied two turnovers without an assist in nine minutes of playing time.

In fact, State ended the game with as many turnovers as made field goals, 23.

Terrence Oglesby, who had four 3-pointers on the night, hit three 3-pointers in double overtime to save the Tigers (14-3, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) last Saturday night in a 97-85 victory over Florida State. This time, the freshman's long-range touch began a run of six consecutive first-half 3s for Clemson that broke things open.

Oglesby, Cliff Hammonds and K.C. Rivers each had two baskets in the surge, which turned a three-point game into a 32-21 lead the Tigers would not give up.

Hammonds led Clemson with 14 points, while Trevor Booker had 13 and Oglesby 12.

North Carolina State (11-5, 0-2) had come off an embarrassing 93-62 loss to No. 1 North Carolina to start the ACC season last Saturday. And the Wolfpack apparently couldn't correct things quickly enough before facing Clemson.

Freshman J.J. Hickson, the Wolfpack's top scorer at better than 16 points a game, was held to four points. Brandon Costner ended the game without a point on 0-6 shooting from the field.

Courtney Fells had four 3-pointers and led the Wolfpack with 19 points.