WRAL Sports Fan

WRALSportsFan

Lowe Defends Costner

By Ken Medlin

Feb 8, 2008

N.C. coach Sidney Lowe had plenty to say about Brandon Costner’s play on Friday at his news conference.

“He’s not shooting the ball like he did last year … but he’s doing the things that we ask him,” Lowe said.

Lowe said he has been hearing people ask if N.C. State is better off without Costner.

“That’s a stupid question,” Lowe fired back.

Costner, a 6-foot-8 sophomore, led N.C. State in scoring last season at 16.8 points per game. He averaged 7.3 rebounds and 34.4 minutes per game.

He is now fourth on the team in scoring at 9.4 points per game. He is averaging 5.0 rebounds per game and playing 26.3 minutes per contest.

Costner shot 47.4 percent from the field last year and is shooting 37.1 percent this season.