NC State Routes Mars Hill In Their Lone Exhibition

NC State hit the hardwood for the first time this season going against an opponent other than themselves  in their exhibition game with  new head coach Kevin Keatts who is in his first season at the helm after spending the last three seasons as the head coach at UNC Wilmington.

NC State  jumped out to a 17-2 lead and never looked back as NC State defeated Mars Hill in dominant fashion, 109-66, Friday night at PNC Arena. Six members of the Wolfpack scored in double figures in NC State's lone exhibition game. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/11/3/mens-basketball-wolfpack-cruises-past-lions-in-preseason-exhibition-109-66.aspx

Wolfpack sophomore Markell Johnson notched a double-double with 16 points and 12 assists as the Wolfpack's starting point guard. Redshirt-junior Torin Dorn led all scorers with 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field, while senior Lennard Freeman grabbed a game-high 10 boards for the Pack. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/11/3/mens-basketball-wolfpack-cruises-past-lions-in-preseason-exhibition-109-66.aspx

Kevin Keatts' fast, aggressive style of play was well on display for the Wolfpack as NC State scored 35 points off 26 turnovers and had 27 points in transition. The Pack totaled 10 blocks for the game, led by 7-footer Omer Yurtseven who swatted four Mars Hill attempts. "according tohttp://gopack.com/news/2017/11/3/mens-basketball-wolfpack-cruises-past-lions-in-preseason-exhibition-109-66.aspx
 
NC State was lights out in the second half, shooting 65.5% from the field and 55.6% from beyond the arc as a team in the final 20 minutes. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/11/3/mens-basketball-wolfpack-cruises-past-lions-in-preseason-exhibition-109-66.aspx

Dorn put up 15 points in the second period, connecting on 6-of-7 shots and knocking down 2-of-3 three pointers. True freshman Lavar Batts, Jr. broke out for 12 points in the second frame, while Johnson added five assists to his double-double outing. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/11/3/mens-basketball-wolfpack-cruises-past-lions-in-preseason-exhibition-109-66.aspx

NC State started the game hot, shooting 7-of-9 through the first four minutes of action to take a commanding 17-2 lead. The Pack scored 21 points off 14 turnovers in the first period and headed to the locker room with a 54-29 advantage. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/11/3/mens-basketball-wolfpack-cruises-past-lions-in-preseason-exhibition-109-66.aspx

Johnson clogged the stat sheet in the first half, putting up 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting, dishing out seven assists and swiping four steals to lead all players. Allerik Freeman added 12 points and six boards in the first period, while Lennard Freeman led the Pack with eight first half rebounds."according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/11/3/mens-basketball-wolfpack-cruises-past-lions-in-preseason-exhibition-109-66.aspx

The Kevin Keatts era will officially begin Friday, Nov. 10 as NC State takes on VMI. The regular season home opener is set to tip off at 7 p.m. inside PNC Arena. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/11/3/mens-basketball-wolfpack-cruises-past-lions-in-preseason-exhibition-109-66.aspx