NC State Beats Little Rock At PNC Arena Before The Barclays Center Classic Shifts To Brooklyn New York Where NC State Will Take On Memphis
The first two games of the Barclays Center Classic took place inside Reynolds Coliseum before returning to PNC Arena where NC State beat Little Rock before the Barclays Center Classic shifts to Brooklyn New York and the home of the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets where it will conclude on Thursday afternoon when NC State who is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference takes on Memphis who is a member of the American Athletic Conference.
- The NC State men's basketball team (5-1, 0-1) defeated Little Rock (3-3) 74-58 on Saturday afternoon inside PNC Arena for its fifth consecutive win. C.J. Bryce (18 pts.) led the team in scoring for the fourth time this season, and brought down six rebounds. Markell Johnson joined Bryce in double figures, contributing 12 points to the Pack's victory. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/11/23/mens-basketball-pack-takes-down-trojans-74-58.aspx
Jericole Hellems had one of the best all-around performances of his young career as the sophomore had career-highs in assists (6) and steals (4) while tying his season-high with six rebounds. The St. Louis, Mo., native added seven points. In the opening five minutes alone, Hellems had five points, two steals and one assist. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/11/23/mens-basketball-pack-takes-down-trojans-74-58.aspx
NC State started out hot in the opening five minutes of the first half, as all five starters scored to give the squad an early 12-4 lead. The Pack stretched the lead to 10 points, 17-7, on a Devon Daniels free throw with 12:54 left in the first half and Little Rock never got within single digits the rest of the game. The squad steadily increased its lead throughout the half, eventually reaching 24 points as NC State's defense forced 11 turnovers that led to 14 points. At the break, the Pack had a 39-21 lead while holding the Trojans to 27.6% shooting from the field. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/11/23/mens-basketball-pack-takes-down-trojans-74-58.aspx
Johnson had his lowest assist total of the season with three, but the three assists moved him to seventh all-time in career assists in NC State's record books as he accumulated his 431st, passing Curtis Marshall (430).”according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/11/23/mens-basketball-pack-takes-down-trojans-74-58.aspx
NC State's bench was a separating point on Saturday, outscoring Little Rock's 23-5, thanks to solid performances from Devon Daniels (9 pts.), D.J. Funderburk (8 pts.) and Pat Andree (6 pts.). “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/11/23/mens-basketball-pack-takes-down-trojans-74-58.aspx
The Pack's defense held the Trojans to just 37% shooting from the floor, including 22% from long range. NC State finished with a season-best 11 steals.”according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/11/23/mens-basketball-pack-takes-down-trojans-74-58.aspx
While NC State won Little Rock meanwhile suffered their second straight loss.
– A slow start for Little Rock led to an early deficit at PNC Arena, one in which the Trojans could never recover, dropping a 74-58 decision to NC State.
For the game, Little Rock shot 37.3%, its lowest output of the season. The Trojans made just 22 of 59 shots and went 4-of-18 from three point range (22.2%) as the Wolfpack forced 17 turnovers. “according to https://lrtrojans.com/news/2019/11/23/mens-basketball-sluggish-first-half-costs-trojans-at-nc-state.aspx?path=mbball
• Little Rock was efficient from the free throw line, making 10 of its 14 attempts. “according to https://lrtrojans.com/news/2019/11/23/mens-basketball-sluggish-first-half-costs-trojans-at-nc-state.aspx?path=mbball
• Ruot Monyyong and Ben Coupet Jr. combined for 41 of Little Rock's 58 points as the duo both set career highs. Monyyong finished with his second double-double, scoring 20 points and adding 10 rebounds while Coupet score 21 with four rebounds. The duo also combined to shoot 63% from the floor (17-of-27). “according to https://lrtrojans.com/news/2019/11/23/mens-basketball-sluggish-first-half-costs-trojans-at-nc-state.aspx?path=mbball
• Markquis Nowell finished with eight points, six rebounds and six assists for Little Rock, also registering a pair of steals against the Wolfpack. “according to https://lrtrojans.com/news/2019/11/23/mens-basketball-sluggish-first-half-costs-trojans-at-nc-state.aspx?path=mbball
The Trojans forced nine NC State turnovers in the second half and matched the Wolfpack in the paint for the game with each teams scoring 36 points. Monyyong finished with three dunks for the Trojans, upping his season total to 13 through six games.”
• Little Rock falls to 0-2 all-time against NC State, playing its first game against the Wolfpack since the 1986 NCAA tournament. The Trojans are now 1-8 all-time against current members of the ACC.
• Outside of those three players, the remaining five Trojans that saw playing time combined for just nine points
“according to https://lrtrojans.com/news/2019/11/23/mens-basketball-sluggish-first-half-costs-trojans-at-nc-state.aspx?path=mbball
The Barclays Center Classic will conclude on Thursday from the Barclays Center when NC State takes on Memphis.