NC State Heads To South Bend To Take On Notre Dame
NC State who is led by first year head coach Kevin Keatts will visit South Bend Indiana Wednesday where they will take on Notre Dame who is led by head coach Mike Brey who is in his 17th season at the helm of leading the program. "according to http://www.und.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/mike_brey_51358.html
As for NC State's Atlantic Coast Conference opener Saturday they lost down in South Carolina at Little John Coliseum to Clemson.
Clemson used a 13-2 run at the end of the first half to push itself into a lead it would never relinquish as NC State lost its ACC opener to the Tigers, 78-62, on Saturday afternoon at Littlejohn Coliseum. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/12/30/mens-basketball-pack-falls-to-clemson-in-acc-opener.aspx?path=mbball
With the loss, NC State falls to 10-4, 0-1 in the ACC, while Clemson improves to 12-1, 1-0 in the ACC. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/12/30/mens-basketball-pack-falls-to-clemson-in-acc-opener.aspx?path=mbball
The Pack led by as many as six points in the first half and held a 22-20 lead after two Abdul Malik Abu free throws with 5:10 left in the half, but could only manage two points in the final five minutes of the half as Clemson's 13-2 run gave the Tigers a 33-24 lead at halftime."according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/12/30/mens-basketball-pack-falls-to-clemson-in-acc-opener.aspx?path=mbball
NC State closed within six points on three different occasions in the first four minutes of the second half, but Clemson went on another 11-point run, this time a 14-3 streak, to push the lead to 19 points, 62-43, with 8:28 to effectively put the game out of reach. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/12/30/mens-basketball-pack-falls-to-clemson-in-acc-opener.aspx?path=mbball
Braxton Beverly led the Pack in scoring for the first time this season, scoring a team-high 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting. Omer Yurtseven posted his fourth double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds. He added a career-high tying five blocked shots. Allerik Freeman was the only other Pack player to reach double figures in scoring, finishing with 14 points. Torin Dorn finished with seven points and 10 rebounds. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/12/30/mens-basketball-pack-falls-to-clemson-in-acc-opener.aspx?path=mbball
The Pack entered the game an ACC-best +60 in turnover margin, but were -5 in turnover margin on Saturday and Clemson outscored NC State, 24-10, in points off turnovers."according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/12/30/mens-basketball-pack-falls-to-clemson-in-acc-opener.aspx?path=mbball
NC State outrebounded Clemson 45-40 and had a 14-9 advantage in offensive rebounds, but the Tigers outscored the Pack in the paint, 42-22. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/12/30/mens-basketball-pack-falls-to-clemson-in-acc-opener.aspx?path=mbball
Unlike NC State Notre Dame won their Atlantic Coast Conference opener as they beat Georgia Tech.
Notre Dame (11-3, 1-0 ACC) opened up play in the Atlantic Coast Conference with a 68-59 victory over Georgia Tech (6-7, 0-1 ACC) on Saturday afternoon inside Purcell Pavilion. The Irish used a strong second-half performance to get the win, outscoring the Yellow Jackets 45-31 over the last 20 minutes. "according to http://www.und.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/123017aaa.html
In the winning effort, Glenn and Stacey Miller Head Men's Basketball Coach Mike Brey recorded win number 393 at Notre Dame to tie former head coach Digger Phelps as the winningest coach in program history.
Bonzie Colson , a consensus preseason All-American, put together a monster performance in the conference opener, scoring 22 points and tying his career-high in rebounds with 17. Four other Irish players finished in double figures, as Martinis (12), Rex Pflueger (11), Matt Farrell (10) and T.J. Gibbs (10) all helped carry the offensive load. "according to http://www.und.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/123017aaa.html
HOW IT HAPPENED
Notre Dame trailed by five at the halftime break with the score 28-23 in favor of Georgia Tech. The Irish struggled on the offensive end, knocking down just nine shots in the first 20 minutes. However, the Notre Dame defense kept the team in the game, holding the Yellow Jackets to just 10-of-26 shooting (38.5 percent). Colson led Notre Dame with eight points and six rebounds at the half. "according to http://www.und.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/123017aaa.html
The Irish came out of the intermission locked in on both ends of the floor, outscoring the visitors 19-6 to take a 42-34 lead with just under 12 minutes left in regulation. Georgia Tech cut the Notre Dame lead to four at 44-40 but the Irish responded with a 7-0 run to go on top by 11. The Irish lead never dipped below eight points for the remainder of the afternoon, as the host won by a final of 68-59. "according to http://www.und.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/123017aaa.html
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Colson continued his incredible run of play on Saturday, leading the team in scoring (22), rebounding (17), blocks (3) and steals (2) to deliver the Irish the victory. Colson has now posted nine double-doubles on the season. The senior tied his career high for rebounds against Georgia Tech. Colson saved his best play for the second half, scoring 14 points and grabbing 11 rebounds over the last 20 minutes of action. "according to http://www.und.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/123017aaa.html
NOTRE DAME STAT OF THE NIGHT
The Irish owned the glass against the Yellow Jackets, outrebounding the opposition 45-34. Notre Dame is now 10-0 when outrebounding its opponent. The rebounding advantage led to the Irish scoring 16 second-chance points while holding Georgia Tech scoreless in second-chance opportunities. "according to http://www.und.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/123017aaa.html
NOTES OF THE GAME
- Brey now has 393 victories as Notre Dame's head coach and is tied with Digger Phelps as the all-time program record holder.
- The Irish are now 6-3 against Georgia Tech when meeting in ACC play.
- Notre Dame improves to 4-1 in both overall ACC openers and ACC home openers.
- Colson scored 22 points and passed the 1,500-point milestone for his career, as he now has 1,517 points. The senior is the eighth player in program history to score at least 1,500 points and grab 800 rebounds.
- Colson has now finished in double figures in the scoring column in all 14 games this season and extended his active streak to 31 consecutive games.
- Colson's 17 rebounds are a season-high for the senior and match the best mark of his career.
- Colson posted his ninth double-double of the season and 32nd of his career, moving into a tie with current Notre Dame assistant coach Ryan Humphrey and former standout Jack Cooley for 13th in program history.
- After scoring 10 points against the Yellow Jackets, Farrell has finished with 10-plus points in every contest this season (14 games).
- Geben turned in his sixth double-digit scoring performance of the year with 12 points on Saturday.
- For the fifth time this season and eighth in his career, Pflueger finished with 10-plus points, scoring 11 against Georgia Tech.
- With 10 points, Gibbs finished in double figures in the scoring column for the ninth time this season.
Rex Pflueger dished out six assists. "according to http://www.und.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/123017aaa.html
Tip-off is set for 9:00pm. The game will be televised on the ACC Network. "according to http://www.gopack.com/schedule.aspx?path=mbball