NC State Going For Their Eighth Win Of The Season As They Host UMKC

NC State will go for their eighth win as they host UKMC Saturday under first year head coach Kevin Keatts.

The NC State men's basketball team returns to Reynolds Coliseum Saturday afternoon to play UMKC in the Heritage Game presented by First Tennessee. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/12/8/mens-basketball-pack-returns-to-reynolds-coliseum-to-host-umkc.aspx

Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m., and will be shown on ACC Network Extra with Andrew Sanders and Pack great Chucky Brown on the call. Fans can also listen on the Wolfpack Sports Network with Gary Hahn and Tony Haynes calling the action. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/12/8/mens-basketball-pack-returns-to-reynolds-coliseum-to-host-umkc.aspx

Pack Tracks
-NC State defeated South Carolina State, 103-71, on Saturday inside PNC Arena. Lennard Freeman led four players in double figures with 19 points on 7-of-7 shooting. Freeman, Torin Dorn (8-of-8, 16 points) and Omer Yurtseven (8-of-9, 17 points) combined for 52 points on 23-of-24 shooting from the field. The Pack shot a season-high 63.1 percent from the field in the win over the Bulldogs.
-Saturday's game against UMKC is the annual Heritage Game presented by First Tennessee. Reynolds Coliseum served as the home of Wolfpack Basketball from 1949-1999. The first game for the Wolfpack at Reynolds Coliseum was 12/2/49 and NC State beat Washington & Lee, 67-47. At the time it was built the 11,000-seat Coliseum was the largest college basketball facility in the Southeast. During the 2015-16 sports season it went through a $35 million renovation. Saturday marks the 17th game at Reynolds Coliseum for the Wolfpack since moving to PNC Arena, NC State is 15-1 in games at Reynolds Coliseum since the move.
-The Pack has scored 100+ points in two games this season (102 vs VMI & 103 vs SC State). It marks the first time since the 2002-03 season that NC State has had multiple 100-point games in a season. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/12/8/mens-basketball-pack-returns-to-reynolds-coliseum-to-host-umkc.aspx
 
NC State-UMKC Series
- Saturday's meeting marks the first meeting all-time between the two programs.
- The Pack has an all-time record of 2-0 against teams from the WAC. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/12/8/mens-basketball-pack-returns-to-reynolds-coliseum-to-host-umkc.aspx
 
Constant Defensive Pressure leading to Opponent Turnovers
NC State head coach Kevin Keatts came to Raleigh promising that his program would pressure the opponents full court and create turnovers. Through seven games his inaugural Wolfpack team is living up to his promise.
-The Pack has forced four of its nine opponents this season into 20+-turnovers. The last NC State team to force opponents into 20 or more turnovers four times in a season was the 2009-10 team. The last seven NC State teams (2010-11 team through 2016-17 team) only twice forced opponents into 20 turnovers (2010-11 team forced East Carolina into 20 turnovers on 11/18/10 and 2016-17 team forced Virginia Tech into 20 turnovers on 1/4/17). In Keatts first four games at NC State, his teams forced opponents into 21 (VMI), 24 (Charleston Southern), 27 (Bryant) and 22 (Presbyterian) turnovers.
-The 27 turnovers NC State forced Bryant into on Nov. 14 are the most turnovers the Pack has forced an opponent to commit since Mount St. Mary's had 27 on Nov. 22, 2002.
-In the first four games this season, the Pack forced its opponents into more turnovers than made field goals.
-In nine games, the Pack has forced 165 turnovers. The 18.3 turnovers forced per game ranks 18th in NCAA Dl and are the most forced turnovers by a team from the ACC.
-NC State recorded 14 steals in Tuesday's win over Bryant. It's the most steals in a game for NC State since the Pack had 16 steals in a win over Boston College on Jan. 19, 2012. It was a 192 game span between 14+-steal games for the Pack. NC State has 79 steals in nine games this season, a mark that ranks second in the ACC and 24th overall in NCAA DI. "according tohttp://www.gopack.com/news/2017/12/8/mens-basketball-pack-returns-to-reynolds-coliseum-to-host-umkc.aspx
 
Winning the Turnover Battle
Not only have the Pack been forcing turnovers, but they have been protecting the basketball, too. NC State has had 10 or fewer turnovers in four of its nine games this season.
-The Pack is +51 in turnover margin. Pack has forced 165 turnovers and only turned it over themselves 114 times. +51 turnover margin is tied for the 12th-best TO margin in NCAA Dl this season and is the best in the ACC. Virginia at +37 turnover margin is the second-best in the ACC.
-Major turnaround from last year's team. Last season, NC State finished the season -67 in turnover margin, including -14 mark in non-conference games. 
 
Healthy Freeman Becoming an Offensive Force
NC State senior Lennard Freeman had offseason leg surgery prior to the 2015-16 season and after playing through pain that season, elected to have offseason leg surgery again prior to the 2016-17 season and sat out the year to recover.  Now fully healthy, Freeman has started his senior season with an offensive outburst.
-A career 3.6 points per game average coming into the season, Freeman has reset his career-high three times this season and is averaging 13.0 points per game through nine games. He opened the year with 15 points against VMI, had 20 against Bryant and then had 23 in the Pack's win against Presbyterian. 
-Freeman is shooting a team-best 75.0 percent from the field this season. Freeman would lead the ACC in field goal percentage, but falls just short of the minimum number of field goal makes to rank among ACC leaders. To be listed you have to average 5 made field goals per game, Freeman has made 42 field goals in nine games (4.7 field goals per game).
-The senior is connecting on 80.5 percent of his foul shots (33-of-4)1. The Washington D.C. native, entered this season a career 47.9 percent free throw shooter.
-In 103 career games coming into this season, Freeman had only scored in double figures six times, he's scored in double figures in 6 of 9 games this season. 
-Has already scored 117 points this season, more than he scored in his entire junior season in 2015-16 season (107 points). The most points Freeman has scored in a season was 141 as a freshman in 2013-14.
-The game against Presbyterian on November 16 was the 107th career game in an NC State uniform for Freeman. It was the first time in those 107 games that Freeman led NC State in scoring. Freeman led the Pack in scoring for the second time in his career with 19 points in a 103-71 win over South Carolina State on Dec. 2.
-Freeman, who entered this season as a player best known for doing the gritty things that don't show up in the box score, has also set career-highs with three steals and three blocks this season, both set against Presbyterian. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/12/8/mens-basketball-pack-returns-to-reynolds-coliseum-to-host-umkc.aspx
 
Bench Production
- NC State's bench is averaging to score 27.3 points per game this season. The Pack's bench has outscored the opponents bench, 246-141 this year.
- NC State's bench has outscored the opponents bench in eight of nine games this season. 
- In the win over No. 2 Arizona at the Battle 4 Atlantis, NC State's bench outscored Arizona's, 39-6. Braxton Beverly had 20 points off-the-bench for the Pack in the win, while Omer Yurtseven had 11 points and a team-best nine rebounds.
- In the game against Northern Iowa, NC State's bench outscored the Panther's, 30-2. Yurtseven led the team in points (17) and rebounds (13) in the game against UNI.
- In the most recent outing against Penn State, NC State's bench outscored the Nittany Lions, 39-9. The Pack's bench consisting of Yurtseven, Sam Hunt and Lavar Batts, Jr., combined to shoot 12-for-15 from the field (80 percent), including 9-for-10 from three-point range. 
- In the last five outings, NC State's bench is shooting 53.3 percent (57-for-107) from the field, including 45 percent (18-for-40) from three-point range. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/12/8/mens-basketball-pack-returns-to-reynolds-coliseum-to-host-umkc.aspx
 
Noting NC State's Returning and Lost
-Senior forward Abdul-Malik Abu is NC State's leading returning scorer (11.8 ppg.) and rebounder (7.0 rpg.). The Boston, Mass., native has led NC State in rebounding the last two seasons and is aiming to be the first NC State player to lead the Pack in rebounding in three consecutive seasons since Todd Fuller did it from 1993-96. Abu suffered a Grade 2 MCL Sprain in October and has not played this season.
-Torin Dorn (18 starts) and Omer Yurtseven (14 starts) also return for the Pack. Dorn averaged 9.5 points & 4.6 rebounds per game last season, while Yurtseven added 5.9 points & 4.4 rebounds per game.
- NC State must replace its top three scorers from last season in Dennis Smith, Jr. (18.1), Terry Henderson (13.8) and Maverick Rowan (12.0). The Pack also lost the school's all-time shot block leader in BeeJay Anya (243 career blocks). Smith, Jr., was named the ACC Freshman of the Year, the first Pack player to accomplish this feat since Hawkeye Whitney in 1977. Smith was selected by the Dallas Mavericks with the ninth pick of the NBA Draft. Henderson, after having his appeal denied to return to NC State, went through training camp with the Charlotte Hornets and is now on the Greensboro Swarm roster in the NBA G-League. Rowan was the third overall selection of the NBA G-League draft by the Lakeland Magic.
- NC State joins Florida State and Pittsburgh as the only ACC teams to lose its top three scorers from last season. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/12/8/mens-basketball-pack-returns-to-reynolds-coliseum-to-host-umkc.aspx

As for NC State's previous game, they beat South Carolina State.

The NC State men's basketball team passed out a PNC Arena record 31 assists on 41 field goals Saturday afternoon to run away from South Carolina State, 103-71, inside PNC Arena. Four players scored in double figures for the Pack as NC State posted its highest point total for the season.  "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/12/2/mens-basketball-pack-offense-breaks-pnc-arena-record-in-win-over-south-carolina-state.aspx?path=mbball

NC State (7-2) had its most explosive offensive outing of the season, as the Pack recorded season-high marks in points (103), field goals made (41), field goal percentage (.631) and assists (31). The 103 points scored tied the third-highest scoring output for the Pack since moving to the venue in 1999. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/12/2/mens-basketball-pack-offense-breaks-pnc-arena-record-in-win-over-south-carolina-state.aspx?path=mbball

Lennard Freeman, Omer Yurtseven and Torin Dorn were extremely efficient in the win, combining for 52 points on 23-of-24 shooting from the field. Freeman led the Pack, scoring 19 on a perfect 7-of-7 performance. Yurtseven logged his sixth-straight double-digit scoring output, posting 17 points while knocking down a career-best eight shots from the field. Dorn notched his fifth career double-double in the win, scoring 16 points on 8-of-8 shooting and pulling down a game-high 10 rebounds. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/12/2/mens-basketball-pack-offense-breaks-pnc-arena-record-in-win-over-south-carolina-state.aspx?path=mbball

Allerik Freeman added 13 points for the Pack, extending his double-digit scoring streak to nine games this season. Point guards Markell Johnson and Braxton Beverly each dished out career-highs in assists with 12 and 9, respectively. On the defensive end, Allerik Freeman swiped four steals to tie a career-high, while Yurtseven swatted four blocks to tie a season-high. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/12/2/mens-basketball-pack-offense-breaks-pnc-arena-record-in-win-over-south-carolina-state.aspx?path=mbball

Wolfpack junior Shaun Kirk tallied career-high numbers in minutes played (18), points (7), field goals made (3) and rebounds (4). Redshirt-freshman Spencer Newman made his Wolfpack debut, logging five minutes and pulling down one rebound in his first college game. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/12/2/mens-basketball-pack-offense-breaks-pnc-arena-record-in-win-over-south-carolina-state.aspx?path=mbball

As for UMKC previous game, they lost to South East Missouri.

The UMKC men’s basketball team (3-7) battled back from a 12-point deficit against Southeast Missouri (5-4) on Wednesday night, but the Redhawks held on for the 91-87 victory at the Show Me Center. "according to http://www.umkckangaroos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=89995&SPID=10799&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211688850&DB_OEM_ID=18300

Southeast Missouri came out firing, tallying five early points on the board to start the game. A block by Aleer Leek (Juba, South Sudan) converted into a layup by Broderick Robinson (Grand Junction, Colo.) on the other end to crush the Redhawks momentum. "according to http://www.umkckangaroos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=89995&SPID=10799&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211688850&DB_OEM_ID=18300

A 3-pointer by Isaiah Ross (Davenport, Iowa) spoiled Southeast Missouri’s run, as Robinson converted a three-point play to bring the Roos within one at the first media break of the half. "according to http://www.umkckangaroos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=89995&SPID=10799&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211688850&DB_OEM_ID=18300

A pair of treys – courtesy of Robinson and Marvin Nesbitt Jr. (Chicago, Ill.) – knotted the game at 16-all. Southeast Missouri jumped out to a 12-point lead, before back-to-back 3-pointers by Robinson cut the Redhawk lead back to single digits. "according to http://www.umkckangaroos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=89995&SPID=10799&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211688850&DB_OEM_ID=18300

Southeast Missouri continued to push the ball at UMKC in the first half, closing on a 7-0 run to hold the 48-37 advantage going into the locker room. Robinson led all scorers at the break with 17 points and five boards, while Nesbitt Jr. notched 10 points and four rebounds. "according to http://www.umkckangaroos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=89995&SPID=10799&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211688850&DB_OEM_ID=18300

A layup by Steve Dulley (Kansas City, Mo.) at the 15:07 mark brought the Roos within three points of the Redhawks. Back-to-back buckets in the paint by Xavier Bishop (Springfield, Ill.) continued UMKC’s offensive momentum. A 3-pointer off the bench from Brandon McKissic (Ferguson, Mo.), and another by Bishop, brought the Roos within one point on two occasions at the halfway point. Robinson’s fifth bucket from behind the arc helped UMKC come within one point for the final time, before the Redhawks pulled away for the 91-87 victory. "according to http://www.umkckangaroos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=89995&SPID=10799&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211688850&DB_OEM_ID=18300

Bishop finished the night with 18 points – tying his career high – while dishing out a team-high five assists. Robinson led all scorers with 24 points – just two shy of a career high – while grabbing a career high 10 rebounds for his first career double-double. Leek blocked a career high four shots, while Nesbitt Jr. scored a career-high 15 points of UMKC’s 34 points off the bench. "according to http://www.umkckangaroos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=89995&SPID=10799&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211688850&DB_OEM_ID=18300

Tip-off is set for 2:00pm from Reynolds Coliseum. The game will be televised on ACC Network Extra. "according to http://www.gopack.com/schedule.aspx?path=mbball