Notre Dame defeated the NC State Wolfpack 81-78 in overtime Sunday night.
For those of you familiar with the 1993 Bill Murray movie Groundhog Day, NC State must feel like they are trapped in a vicious cycle of defeat, unable to catch a break and win one for their frustrated coaches and fans.
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With gutsy play and disappointing outcomes in the Virginia, Miami and UNC games, the 19,500 Wolfpack faithful wanted desperately for their basketball team to pull this one out. Not so much because they were in need of a win (which they were) but mostly because THIS team deserved something good to happen to it. Since its awesome performance to whip Duke at PNC Arena, NC State has seen opportunities to hand ranked UNC and Notre Dame teams losses, fall short.
No. 8 Notre Dame (19-2, 7-1) came to Raleigh for the first time since 1983, a 43-42 win at Reynolds Coliseum. NC State (13-8, 4-4), needing a win to gain momentum heading down the homestretch of ACC conference play, came out smoking hot.
The Pack was shooting a phenomenal 62% from the field in route to building an 18 point lead at 40-22 with 3:36 remaining in the first half. A possession earlier, the Wolfpack led 38-22 after a Caleb Martin feed to BeeJay Anya for a two-handed dunk that brought the house down.
Jan 25, 2015; Raleigh, NC, USA;North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Trevor Lacey (1) blocks the shot of Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Demetrius Jackson (11) during the second half at PNC Arena. The Fighting Irish won 81-78 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
Halftime: NC State 42 – Notre Dame 30
The second half was much different.
The NC State Wolfpack went cold as Notre Dame began draining 3’s and scoring layups on penetration drives. Irish luck had definitely turned. After a dismal first half shooting performance that saw the Fighting Irish go 1-11 on 3-point attempts (9.9%), the team caught fire shooting 7-15 and 50% in the second half from long-range.
At the 13:12 mark, Notre Dame took its first lead of the game at 53-52. The Irish had completed a 19 point swing erasing the Wolfpack’s huge 18 point first half lead.
With NC State leading 71-69 and possession of the ball with 15 seconds left, disaster struck. The Pack turned the ball over on an errant long in bounds pass. Notre Dame’s V.J. Beachem scored the tying tap in with 1.8 seconds left to force overtime.
OVERTIME
The first overtime game of the season for NC State would not be memorable. With the score tied 76 -76 and 2:52 remaining in overtime, Cat Barber drove the baseline only to have his shot blocked by Steve Vasturia. The Irish then came down and scored once again on Beachem’s heroics for their first lead in overtime at 78-76.
Busting Brackets
Lacey would miss an ensuing jumper and Vasturia would score on a goaltend to stretch the to lead 80-76 with a minute left. Lacey would again miss, this time on a three-point attempt . Fortunately the Wolfpack’s Caleb Martin would get fouled on the rebound and hit both free throws to bring the Pack within two points at 80-78.
With 47 seconds remaining, NC State played solid defense causing a missed long-range 3 by the Irish, but a poor box out allowed Notre Dame to get the rebound and the foul. Demetrius Jackson hit 1 of 2 free throws setting the stage for one last opportunity for the Wolfpack with 12.4 seconds. After a quick timeout, the Pack inbounded the ball with 11.2 seconds and Lacey had his 3 point attempt blocked by Jerian Grant. Lacey was able to get the ball back and fire a second shot that rimmed in and out as time expired.
FINAL: Notre Dame 81 – NC State 78 OT
Jerian Grant scored 25 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists. Four other Irish players were in double figures.
Trevor Lacey- 13 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists
Ralston Turner- 11 points, 2 rebounds
Anthony “Cat” Barber- 4 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists
Kyle Washington -12 points, 6 rebounds
Caleb Martin – 12 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists
Cody Martin- 10 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists
BeeJay Anya- 8 points, 2 rebounds, 2 blocks
Abdul-Malik Abu- 8 points, 1 rebounds, 1 assists
Notables:
- NC State had 24 bench scoring (ND 15)
- NC State first half shooting (62.1%)
- NC State second half shooting (39.3%)
- NC State OT shooting (22.2%)
- NC State 3-point shooting for game 7-24 (29.2%)
- NC State led for 35:38 minutes (ND 3:39)
- The Irish are 4-0 all-time at North Carolina State.
UP NEXT for the Wolfpack:
Clemson– January 28, 2015 @ 9:00pm
TV: ACC Network