NC STATE Wins 2 in a row!

NC STATE WOLFPACK REBOUNDS

After a dismal start to the 2015-16 basketball season, NC State (2-1) rebounded with consecutive victories against South Alabama and IUPUI in front of partisan PNC Arena home crowds. On Sunday 11/15/15, the NC State defeated the South Alabama Jaguars (1-2) 70-88 and on Wednesday, 11/18/15 the Wolfpack whipped the IUPUI Jaguars (1-2) 56-79.

Too bad the Pack can’t play a team nicknamed Jaguars every week.

Against South Alabama, Anthony “Cat” Barber did what every Wolfpacker knows he must do each and every game…play his butt off. That’s what he did Sunday when he scored 12 points and had a career high 12 rebounds. He did it again on Wednesday against IUPUI scoring 19 points en route to helping the Pack regain its confidence after the game one debacle.

More from North Carolina State Wolfpack

The most pleasant surprise of the season thus far has been the consistent play of freshman Maverick Rowan who has scored 16, 15 and 15 points in his the first three collegiate basketball games. The 6’7” 215 lb. guard/forward from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida is averaging 15.3 pts and 3.7 rebounds per game. Abdul-Malik Abu and Caleb Martin added to the quartet by contributing double figure points in all three games also. Thus far, the four players have been the main source of the Wolfpack scoring attack. Returning veterans from last season, Lennard Freeman and BeeJay Anya have not produced much by way of scoring, but have been a force on the boards and blocking shots.

Unfortunately, the unexpected losses of Trevor Lacey who went pro and Kyle Washington who transferred have left obvious holes in the offensive game plan. Their presence would have made this year’s edition a top 25 caliber team. Without them they will struggle to get points from anyone other than the quartet.