NC State Heads To Brooklyn For The Barclays Center Classic Finale Where They Will Take On Sixteenth Ranked Memphis
After beginning the Barclays Center Classic in North Carolina’s state capital with three games the team located in North Carolina’s state capital will play the Barclays Center Finale in the Big Apple in the home of the Brooklyn Nets of the NBA on Thursday afternoon which also happens to be Thanksgiving.
NC State who is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference comes into the Barclays Center Classic finale with a record of 5-1 while Memphis who is a member of the American Athletic Conference also comes into the Barclays Center Classic finale with a record of 5-1.
The difference? NC State is unranked while Memphis is ranked sixteenth in the latest AP Top 25 poll. “according to https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/rankings
As for NC State’s previous game in the Barclays Center Classic,
They beat Little Rock in North Carolina’s state capital.
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
Like NC State, Memphis also won their previous game in the Barclays Center Classic as they knocked off Ole Miss in Memphis Tennessee.
Yet, without 7-foot-1 All-American James Wiseman and without guard Lester Quinones for most of the game with a hand injury, 16th-ranked University of Memphis passed its first big home test of the young season. “according to https://gotigersgo.com/news/2019/11/23/mens-basketball-no-16-tigers-knock-off-unbeaten-ole-miss.aspx?path=mbball
The Tigers (5-1) defeated Ole Miss, 87-86, before 17,875 Saturday at FedExForum, relying on two other key freshmen, 52 percent shooting and experienced second-year guards Alex Lomax and Tyler Harris. “according to https://gotigersgo.com/news/2019/11/23/mens-basketball-no-16-tigers-knock-off-unbeaten-ole-miss.aspx?path=mbball
Freshman forward Precious Achiuwa posted his second-straight double-double with 25 points and 11 rebounds, while D.J. Jeffries came off the bench to supply 23 points, four rebounds and two blocks. Lomax was superb in 29 reserve minutes, finishing with 14 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Harris scored 15 points, including three 3-pointers. “according to https://gotigersgo.com/news/2019/11/23/mens-basketball-no-16-tigers-knock-off-unbeaten-ole-miss.aspx?path=mbball
Ole Miss (4-1) entered the game unbeaten and holding the opposition to 52 points per game. No Rebel opponent had scored 60 points this season.”according to https://gotigersgo.com/news/2019/11/23/mens-basketball-no-16-tigers-knock-off-unbeaten-ole-miss.aspx?path=mbball
The Tigers played their third straight game without Wiseman, who is being withheld from games by the NCAA until Jan. 12 at USF. Quinones was hurt midway through the first half and did not return. “according to https://gotigersgo.com/news/2019/11/23/mens-basketball-no-16-tigers-knock-off-unbeaten-ole-miss.aspx?path=mbball
With a depleted attack, Achiuwa, Jeffries, Lomax and Harris stepped up. Lomax was particularly effective for the second-straight game and had several key moments, including completing a three-point play for a 73-65 lead with four minutes left and later driving and scoring on a left-handed layup for a 79-71 advantage with 1:41 to go. “according to https://gotigersgo.com/news/2019/11/23/mens-basketball-no-16-tigers-knock-off-unbeaten-ole-miss.aspx?path=mbball
He also made 4-of-4 free throws in the final 1:16.”according to https://gotigersgo.com/news/2019/11/23/mens-basketball-no-16-tigers-knock-off-unbeaten-ole-miss.aspx?path=mbball
"A-Lo knows my system, he understands me, he understands the flow, he's won a lot of ballgames in his career," Hardaway said. "He won six state championships in seven years, so he understands the game. He's a winner. He's already a tough guy. “according to https://gotigersgo.com/news/2019/11/23/mens-basketball-no-16-tigers-knock-off-unbeaten-ole-miss.aspx?path=mbball
"And he knows we have a very young team, so when he comes in the game he knows he has to affect the game right away. Whether that's fair to him or not, we need him to be on every single game. I was proud of him today."
Memphis led by 16 (64-48) with 11:18 left, but Ole Miss hit three 3-pointers in the final six minutes and 11 straight free throws at one stretch to make the final minutes close. Ole Miss' Blake Hinson hit a deep 3-pointer at the buzzer to make it a one-point game.
The Tigers benefited from the play of Lomax who came in to ignite the offense behind a combination of alley-oop assists and strong rebounding. He assisted Isaiah Maurice for a layup that gave the Tigers a 29-28 lead with just under six minutes remaining. Memphis never trailed the rest of the half or in the second half. “according to https://gotigersgo.com/news/2019/11/23/mens-basketball-no-16-tigers-knock-off-unbeaten-ole-miss.aspx?path=mbball
The Tigers shot 56 percent to offset a lack of 3-point shooting (1-of-5) and scored 45 first-half points against an Ole Miss team that entered allowing only 52 per game. The Rebels made 6-of-14 from beyond the arc of offset 36 percent shooting.”according to https://gotigersgo.com/news/2019/11/23/mens-basketball-no-16-tigers-knock-off-unbeaten-ole-miss.aspx?path=mbball
Tip-off is set for 4:00pm from the Barclays Center. The game will be televised on ESPN2.