Tobacco Road Report

By Michael

There wasn’t much defense in this one. UNCG (6-7) kept raining threes while N.C. State (10-4) went to the inside game for shots in the paint and free throw opportunities. Whichever team converted the most would win. N.C. State eventually did, but it took overtime, a career-high 26 points from McCauley, and 31-37 from the line to get it done.

Still without Engin Atsur, who went down in the Michigan game on November 27th of last year, the Wolfpack are short-manned and go mainly with a six man rotation. Atsur will likely return for the ACC conference season and the Wolfpack are right to keep him out until fully healed. Hamstring injuries have a tendency to never fully go away and the Wolfpack need him healthy, not gimpy.

Without Atsur, Gavin Grant (18 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists) has been logging most of the minutes at point. Grant is a natural 2 or 3 and has struggled to run the offense with the requisite efficiency needed in the ACC. Grant has been credited with 56 assists over the 9 games without Atsur (including versus UNCG), which is a very respectable 6.2 apg. However, he’s also turned the ball over 50 times, for a 1.1 assist to turnover ratio. Yikes.

The Spartans felt that the only way to win this one was to shoot the three. They generally did, finishing 16-36 on three point shots and seemingly draining a three every time the Wolfpack looked ready to take the game over. Kendall Toney was hot early, hitting 5 three pointers in the first ten minutes en route to 28 points overall. Hickman was hot late, scoring 21 points to go with 11 rebounds.

The Wolfpack, however, continually and effectively used their size advantage down low to keep the game tight. In addition to McCauley’s 26 points on 11 of 18 shooting, Costner had 19 points and 5 rebounds.

The inside game eventually got the Spartans in foul trouble as both Hines and Stywall eventually fouled out. The loss of Hines (27 points, 6 rebounds) was particularly important as he was the only inside offense for the Spartans. Without him, the Wolfpack could better guard the three point line and get a hand in the face of Spartan shooters.

It’s good to see that the Wolfpack have spirit and enough perseverance to get a win in a game like this. Unfortunately, it won’t be enough to do much in conference. If Atsur returns at full speed, they should have enough to stay in some games, especially at home, and give the rotation much needed experience. Then the addition of next year’s recruiting class should give the ‘pack enough to work with.