NC State Takes On Vanderbilt In The Hoops Hall Miami Invitational

On Saturday NC State will look to bounce back from their first loss of the season while Vanderbilt will look to get another win as they play in the Hoops Hall Miami Invitational.

NC State who is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference comes into the game with a record 6-1 while Vanderbilt who is a member of the Southeastern Conference comes into the game with a record of 5-1.

As for NC State’s previous game, as stated above they suffered their first loss of the season.

The NC State men's basketball team led for a majority of the game, but 22nd-ranked Wisconsin was able to take the lead late and hold off the Pack to win 79-75 Tuesday night inside the Kohl Center. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/11/27/mens-basketball-pack-falls-to-22nd-ranked-wisconsin-79-75.aspx

With the loss, NC State falls to 6-1, while the Badgers improve to 6-1. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/11/27/mens-basketball-pack-falls-to-22nd-ranked-wisconsin-79-75.aspx

Markell Johnson led the Pack with a career-high 21 points on 9-of-17 shooting, while CJ Bryce finished with 18 points – 14 in the second half – and seven rebounds. Torin Dorn added his second double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/11/27/mens-basketball-pack-falls-to-22nd-ranked-wisconsin-79-75.aspx

After Wisconsin opened the game with a bucket, the Pack rattled off the next six points to take an early lead. NC State would lead for the next 12 minutes until Wisconsin retook the lead 23-22 on a D'Mitrik Trice three-pointer. The Pack went back ahead on its next possession before another Wisconsin three-pointer gave the Badgers a 25-23 lead with 6:13 left in the half. The Pack only allowed Wisconsin one field goal the rest of the half as NC State closed the opening 20 minutes with a 14-4 run to take a 36-29 lead into the half. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/11/27/mens-basketball-pack-falls-to-22nd-ranked-wisconsin-79-75.aspx

Johnson closed a strong opening half with a step-back three-pointer. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/11/27/mens-basketball-pack-falls-to-22nd-ranked-wisconsin-79-75.aspx

The junior guard opened the second half the same way he ended the first as his three-pointer on the first possession of the half gave NC State a 10-point lead, 39-29. Dorn had a jumper on the next possession to give NC State a 12 point lead, 41-29, one minute into the second half. The Badgers responded with five quick points to cut the lead to seven as both teams started the second half hot offensively. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/11/27/mens-basketball-pack-falls-to-22nd-ranked-wisconsin-79-75.aspx

The first five minutes of the second half featured a run where both teams hit three-pointers on six consecutive possessions. The Pack again went on a mini-burst, going on a 9-2 run, to take a 57-47 lead with 12:49 to go. The Badgers answered with a 10-2 run to cut NC State's lead to 59-57 with 9:10 to go, but NC State again responded to the Badgers run as a 6-0 NC State run gave the Pack an eight-point lead, 65-57, with 7:34 to go. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/11/27/mens-basketball-pack-falls-to-22nd-ranked-wisconsin-79-75.aspx

Wisconsin answered NC State's 6-0 run with a 7-0 run to cut the deficit to one, 65-64. NC State had one final mini-run, a 4-0 spurt to give the Pack a 69-64 lead with 4:57 to go, but the Badgers finally seized momentum after that as Wisconsin scored eight of the next 10 points to take a 72-71 lead on an Ethan Happ basket with 2:19 to go. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/11/27/mens-basketball-pack-falls-to-22nd-ranked-wisconsin-79-75.aspx

The Badgers' lead was its first since the 6:13 mark of the first half. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/11/27/mens-basketball-pack-falls-to-22nd-ranked-wisconsin-79-75.aspx

NC State retook the lead on a Bryce basket with 1:46 to go, but would never lead again as the Badgers closed the game by scoring seven of the final nine points. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/11/27/mens-basketball-pack-falls-to-22nd-ranked-wisconsin-79-75.aspx

NC State led for 31:51 in the game, while Wisconsin held the lead for 3:42. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/11/27/mens-basketball-pack-falls-to-22nd-ranked-wisconsin-79-75.aspx

Wisconsin finished the game 11-of-21 from three-point range as Trice and Aleem Ford each hit four from long range. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/11/27/mens-basketball-pack-falls-to-22nd-ranked-wisconsin-79-75.aspx

NC State won the battle on the boards, 36-30. The Pack has now out-rebounded six of its seven opponents this season. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/11/27/mens-basketball-pack-falls-to-22nd-ranked-wisconsin-79-75.aspx

As for Vanderbilt’s previous game, Unlike NC State Vanderbilt won their previous game as they routed Savannah State University.

A high-scoring blowout might be just what Vanderbilt needed after losing the gem of its recruiting class. “according to https://vucommodores.com/news/2018/11/27/mens-basketball-mbb-defeats-savannah-state-120-85.aspx

That's just what the Commodores got as freshman Aaron Nesmith enjoyed career highs of 20 points and 13 rebounds and Vanderbilt played its first full game without point guard Darius Garland in a 120-85 rout of Savannah State on Tuesday night. “according to https://vucommodores.com/news/2018/11/27/mens-basketball-mbb-defeats-savannah-state-120-85.aspx

It was the most points scored by the Commodores (5-1) since a school-record 130 against Ole Miss in 1970. “according to https://vucommodores.com/news/2018/11/27/mens-basketball-mbb-defeats-savannah-state-120-85.aspx

"I knew with Darius being out tonight it was a big hole to fill because obviously, he's our leader so we had to we had to come together collectively as a team," Nesmith said. "The team definitely used it as fuel." “according to https://vucommodores.com/news/2018/11/27/mens-basketball-mbb-defeats-savannah-state-120-85.aspx

Garland, a freshman who was averaging 16.2 points per game, suffered a season-ending knee injury in Friday's loss to Kent State. “according to https://vucommodores.com/news/2018/11/27/mens-basketball-mbb-defeats-savannah-state-120-85.aspx

Projected as a lottery pick in the upcoming NBA draft, Garland underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee Monday. “according to https://vucommodores.com/news/2018/11/27/mens-basketball-mbb-defeats-savannah-state-120-85.aspx

"I didn't believe it at first," Nesmith said when he found out Garland was lost for the season. "He sent the team a text and I texted him and told him, 'Please tell me this wasn't true.' But sadly, things happen, but God has a plan for him and I know he's going to be alright."  “according to https://vucommodores.com/news/2018/11/27/mens-basketball-mbb-defeats-savannah-state-120-85.aspx

Garland and Simi Shittu formed the heart of Vanderbilt's best recruiting class in school history. Both players were five-star prospects and McDonald's All-Americans last season in high school.
Forward Clevon Brown, a 6-foot-8 junior who blocked four shots, moved into the starting five as the Commodores reshuffled with a bigger lineup. Saben Lee switched from shooting guard to point guard. “according to https://vucommodores.com/news/2018/11/27/mens-basketball-mbb-defeats-savannah-state-120-85.aspx

Shittu, a freshman who will be relied on more, scored 17 points and had five assists. “according to https://vucommodores.com/news/2018/11/27/mens-basketball-mbb-defeats-savannah-state-120-85.aspx

Yanni Wetzell, a 6-10 transfer from Division II St. Mary's (Texas), added 15 points off the bench. “according to https://vucommodores.com/news/2018/11/27/mens-basketball-mbb-defeats-savannah-state-120-85.aspx

"I think the biggest shock was when I first came to practice last summer," Wetzell said of the adjustment from DII to DI. "It took me about three to four months to adjust to the speed of the game, coming from DII." according to https://vucommodores.com/news/2018/11/27/mens-basketball-mbb-defeats-savannah-state-120-85.aspx

Eight Commodores broke into double figures, including Maxwell Evans with 16 points, Toye with 13, Lee and Matt Ryan with 11 each and Matthew Moyer with 10. Vanderbilt shot 63 percent from the floor. “according to https://vucommodores.com/news/2018/11/27/mens-basketball-mbb-defeats-savannah-state-120-85.aspx

Savannah State (3-6), transitioning from Division I to II after the season, got outplayed in nearly every phase of the game. “according to https://vucommodores.com/news/2018/11/27/mens-basketball-mbb-defeats-savannah-state-120-85.aspx

Vanderbilt outscored Savannah State 53-31 in points in the paint and 23-9 in fast-break points. The Commodores outscored the Tigers 21-9 at the foul line and 27-16 in points off turnovers. “according to https://vucommodores.com/news/2018/11/27/mens-basketball-mbb-defeats-savannah-state-120-85.aspx

Freshman reserve Collins Joseph led four Tigers in double figures with 21 points and he added five assists, while Jaquan Dotson scored 17. The Commodores started quickly, shooting 62 percent from the floor in the first half to take a 65-37 lead at the break. “according to https://vucommodores.com/news/2018/11/27/mens-basketball-mbb-defeats-savannah-state-120-85.aspx

BIG PICTURE
Savannah State: The Tigers lost their fourth in five games as they were outmanned at nearly every position.
Vanderbilt: Life Without Darius began with a lopsided win as the Commodores reshuffled their lineup. “according to https://vucommodores.com/news/2018/11/27/mens-basketball-mbb-defeats-savannah-state-120-85.aspx

'BROTHER FOR LIFE'
Garland plans to remain with the team for the rest of the season. "He's going to be with us every step of the way," Nesmith said. "He's a brother for life no matter what happens. He's always with us, we're always with him." Commodores coach Bryce Drew said it's been an emotional rollercoaster the last couple of days. "First, I'm just crushed for him that he doesn't get to play," Drew said. "He was playing so well. We ran a lot of offense through Darius. His parents joked that they were going to buy him a black suit and a gold tie for the rest of the year, so I was, like, great, we'll bring him down and let him coach with us." “according to https://vucommodores.com/news/2018/11/27/mens-basketball-mbb-defeats-savannah-state-120-85.aspx

ROAD WARRIORS
Savannah State doesn't play its next home game until Jan. 19. The Tigers' 10-game road swing includes December stops against two ranked teams in the Big 10: No. 22 Wisconsin and No. 14 Iowa. “according to https://vucommodores.com/news/2018/11/27/mens-basketball-mbb-defeats-savannah-state-120-85.aspx

Tip-off is set for 5:00pm from American Airlines Arena that is home of the Miami Heat of the NBA. The game will be televised on ESPN2.