The BIGS get it done: NC State Wolfpack knocks off #1 Villanova Wildcats 71-68

Down goes Nova!       Down goes Nova!       Down goes Nova!

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NC State was determined to play a different game than the one they played two days earlier against LSU.  Down by 16 points with 8 1/2 minutes to go, the NC State Wolfpack had to fight and scrape and still needed a grand collapse from the Tigers to eek out the last second victory on Thursday.

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Last night, the Wolfpack was a different team.  The Pack started confident, aggressive and strong and kept their composure the second half as Villanova (33-3) tried to repeat the feat NC State had pulled off.   NC State (22-13) defeated the Villanova Wildcats 71-68 in round 3 of the East Regional of the 2015 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  The game, played in Wildcat country, was akin to Duke playing in Charlotte.  The stunning victory snapped Nova’s 16 game win streak and ended their hopes of avoiding another early tournament exit that has plagued the school in recent years.

Welcome to the Sweet 16 NC State.

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Garnet and Cocky

This game was a tough as nails effort by the Wolfpack frontline, guards and bench.  It was a total team effort, complete with outstanding hustle, aggressive rebounding, clever coaching and pressure free throws that the Pack had to make down the stretch.  Senior guard Desmond Lee contributed bigtime minutes off the bench providing defense, scoring and ball security when the Wolfpack needed to make matchup adjustments to deal with foul trouble issues.

In an anomaly from the regular season, NC State struggled from the three-point line.  The team hit only 3 the entire game and senior sharpshooter Ralston Turner failed to score a single field goal.  Not one.   However, those deficiencies were offset by an astounding 34 points in the paint and tenacious defense.

Mar 21, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Desmond Lee (5) celebrates after defeating the Villanova Wildcats 71-68 in the third round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Consol Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

NC State had an early 7-0 spurt that culminated with an Abdul-Malik Abu monster dunk.  Abu’s play foretold the solid performance that Mark Gottfried’s Wolfpack would get from the BIGS.  Abu, BeeJay Anya, Lennard Freeman would all contribute heavily to pounding the offensive and defensive boards.

With :34 remaining in the first half, Villanova guard Darrun Hillard drove the lane missing a lay up.   Nova’s 6’11” junior center Daniel Ochefu grabbed the rebound and attempted a quick put back when Anya made a jaw dropping (all-ball) block sending Ochefu to the ground in disbelief.  The play was ruled a jump ball with possession going to the Wolfpack.

Caleb Martin inbounded the pass to Trevor Lacey who drove it all the way down to the right side of the three-point line, where stopped to let the defender pass, squared up and nailed a three-pointer as time expired.

Mar 21, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Villanova Wildcats forward JayVaughn Pinkston (22) reacts after the game against the North Carolina State Wolfpack in the third round of the 2015 NCAA Tournamentat Consol Energy Center. The Wolfpack won 71-68. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Halftime:  NC State 32 – Villanova 28

NC State ended the first half on a 7-0 run and the Pack picked up where they left off pushing the lead to 12 points at 45-33.

The Wildcats had made a mini-run to cut the lead to 6 points  at 45-39, when Lacey made a driving lay up and foul to bump it back to nine at 48-39 at t1:30 mark

At the 5:32 mark Lacey continued to do what he has done all year by scoring buckets when the team needed them most.  The Wolfpack lead was back to 9 points after a Lacy one-handed scoop shot.

Game analyst Steve Smith reminded us multiple times that Trevor Lacey was the best isolation shooter in the tournament.  He said it again after Lacey hit a clutch jumper with 1:37 remaining boosting the Wolfpack lead to 7 points.  However, the game was far from over.

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Senior Darrun Hilliard got hot and rallied the Wildcats in the final minute.  He hit multiple 3-pointers keeping the Wildcats within range.  Hilliard made a three-pointer bringing Nova within two points with 41.1 seconds left and another to close the lead to one point at  69-68 with 1.2 seconds left.  Cat Barber and Ralston Turner hit late free throws thwarting the Wildcat comeback sending the Wolfpack back to the Carrier Dome.

In an emotional locker room speech minutes after the game, Gottfried told his team, “Now, We ain’t done fellas.  We’re gonna go home, we’re gonna get a little rest.  We’re going to Syracuse to win…the whole thing.  That was a No. 1 seed fellas, we sent ’em home…sent’em home.”

The Pack moves on to Syracuse, New York for the Sweet 16!

FINAL:  NC State  71  – Villanova  68

Only two Wildcat players scored in double figures: Guard Darrun Hilliard- 27 points (6 of 10 in 3pt shooting) and  JayVaughn Pinkston – 13 points.  Big East co-player of the year Ryan Arcidiacono and 6’11” center Daniel Ochefu were both held to 4 points.
QUICK STATS

Ralston Turner- 4 points, 1 rebounds, 2 assists

Anthony “Cat” Barber- 13 points,  3 rebounds, 3 assists

Trevor Lacey- 17 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists

BeeJay Anya- 2 rebounds, 2 blocks

Abdul-Malik Abu- 13 points, 12 rebounds

Lennard Freeman- 11 points, 12 rebounds

Desmond Lee- 7 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal
Notables:

• Villanova shot 19-61 (31%) from the field
• Villanova hit only 9 of 28 (32%) three pointers
• NC State out-scored Villanova 34-14 in the paint
• NC State out-rebounded Nova 39-29
• NC State was 20 of 27 (74%) in free throws
• NC State only hit 3 three pointers (3/11)
• NC State only had 9 turnovers
• NC State is in the Sweet 16 for the second time in 4 years

UP NEXT:   TBA

Carrier Dome–Syracuse, New York

Friday, March 27, 2015

TV:  TBA