Game Blog: NC State vs. Ga. Tech
Jan 17, 2009
End of Game 76-71 Wolfpack: Two big steals at the end of overtime give NC State its first ACC victory of the year! In a game they had to win, they get it done with a full team effort. Julius Mays answers the which point guard will start question. But after a terrible first half and a sub par second, Degand comes up huge in the end. It won't shock me at all to see him start next game. Trevor Ferguson was the spark plug with 3 three pointers. The defense is still a big question. They suprised the Yellow Jackets with a half court trap. More experienced back courts however will most likely eat it up. The Wolfpack just don't have the speed to run it consistently.
37.7 73-71 Pack: Mays picks Freshman Shumperts pocket sending Ferguson to the line. He hits only one.
1:29 72-71 Pack: McCauley hits a driving Denise Horner for the "and 1." They get it right back on a three second lane violation.
2:00 71-69 Tech: No flow to the Pack offensively!
3:08 69-69: Costner fouls out. Instead of taking a wide open three, he drives the lane and charges.
3:33 69-69: Degand doing a great job of driving to the basket draws the foul. Shumpert unable to guard him.
OT Begins 67-67: Lowe leaves the guys he had on the floor for the final run in the game. Ferguson, Fells, Costner, McCauley, and Degand.
End of Regulation 67-67: The Wolfpack treats the RBC Center crowd to some free basketball as the Yellow Jackets are unable to convert on their final possession.
:31 67-67: Degand takes the ball to the rack for an old fashion three point play!
:52 65-64 Tech: Costner gets ball in low post but turns it over. He pouts! Fouls on the other end.
1:55 65-62 Tech: NC State's pressuring the basketball. THEY STILL ARE NOT RUNNING A PLAY!
3:32 64-58 Tech: Pack starting to mount a comeback. They will have to apply pressure with their trap, while taking advantage of every scoring opportunity. Costner looks very winded!
5:33 62-54 Tech: The Yellow Jackets are opening up a lead. This is the point of the game that State has fallen prey to bad mistakes in the past. You have to have a coach that can get you in a good play to get your scorers a look at the basket.
7:00 59-54 Tech: NC State offense having trouble getting the ball inside to McCauley. Two quick turnovers end up as Tech points!
10:23 52-50 Pack: The Yellow Jackets are struggling with the pressure put on by the Wolfpack. The offense also gets a better look to it with Dagand back in the game. Mays has struggled all afternoon. 4 turnovers in the first half and 2 more to start the second half. I have no idea why Lowe wouldn't start Ferguson in the second half! I guess he doesn't want to wear him out with the hand injury.
12:23 50-47 Pack: Ferguson checks back in and drops a three!!!
14:03 47-42 Pack: The Wolfpack attack with a half court trapping defense. The Jackets are struggling with it. Two turnovers mean points for the Pack.
15:42 42-41 Tech: Ben McCauley and Brandon Costner are directing the offense. Costner is driving and distributing, while Big Ben is getting physical in the paint!
16:49 40-39 Pack: After 26 turnovers between the two teams in the first half Mays quickly picks up another in the second. The offense is starting to run through McCauley.
End of Half 35-34 Tech: Two huge three's by Trevor Ferguson and one free throw gets the crowd jacked up going into the half! Expect him to get quite a few more looks in the second half. The offense as a whole was very poor. It will be interesting to see if one of these teams or coaches get "Teed" up in the second half. Emotions are high.
1:44 33-27 Tech: Degand drives to the basket on the offensive end and scores. He then fouls on the other end and turns it over the next possession. There still isn't any consistent play at the point.
3:31 29-24 Tech: Georgia Tech made two free throws in a row. 12:50 on Saturday January 17th. Mark the time!
4:31 27-24 Tech: 7 footer Brad Sheehan has come in for Tech, and the Wolfpack seem to be struggling with his size inside. Sorry I failed to mention, Sydney Lowe has brought out the Red Jacket. I guess State can struggle in whatever he's wearing. Don't tell the folks selling the "Fear the Blazer" t-shirts outside.
5:48 23-22 Tech: The game is getting very physical. You can tell both teams are frustrated from their play. Degand running the offense has not gotten State going. Mays checks back in at point guard.
7:59 20-19 Pack: Referee Karl Hess called a timeout and told both benches to coach their players, please. On a positive note, State has already scored more first half points than they did last week down in Clemson (17). Fells looks like the ankle is 100%.
8:53 20-19 Pack: There should be a written apology from both coaches, for the lack luster offenses. It is getting sloppy. Both teams giving up unforced turnovers while falling all over each other.
11:02 18-18: The battle for last place continues. Both teams fighting for the right to be the ACC bottom feeder. Shumpert and Storrs of the Rambling Wreck have been able to drop a couple of three's. The only thing keeping the Pack in the game right now is turnovers by the inexperienced Tech back court.
12:46 16-15 Pack: Iman Shumpert, the freshman point guard for the Jackets, is challenging the young Pack guards. Tracy Smith and Johnny Thomas check in and immediately the Wolfpack intensity picks up!
15:17 10-9 Tech: State having a little trouble defending the perimeter. Lowe calls timeout to talk with his Freshman Williams and Mays to get a hand in the face. Tech comes out of the break pressing. It was broken by the Pack with a Fells dunk!
Game Start: NC State gets off to a fast start as Julius Mays finds a wide open Brandon Costner for three to get the Wolfpack started. The biggest question is, will Mays have enough gas in the tank to make plays like that at the end of the game!!
The Wolfpack have to stop a losing streak in the worst way. They do it by starting two freshman. CJ Williams and Julius Mays get the nod as they attempt to add some energy to the lack luster line up.
