That’s why they play the game: NC State blasts Pitt 78-61
NC State Wolfpack basketball got a good win with Duke just over the horizon.
NC State defeats Pittsburgh 78-61
NC State (11-8, 1-5) pulled off a minor miracle Tuesday night when they defeated the Pittsburgh Panthers (15-3, 4-2) in a blowout. Say what?
Yes, indeed it is true. The NC State Wolfpack basketball team whipped the tar out of ACC foe Pitt on their own home court. Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon tried his best to get his team on track, but all efforts failed. No one was more surprised than the fans at the Petersen Center who sat and watched in amazement as their home team was dismantled.
Wolfpack fans were pretty stunned also.
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All we have heard for the past week was how difficult an upcoming stretch the Pack had, given how they fumbled a few winnable games against Florida State, Wake Forest and Virginia Tech. Pitt was after all, 15-2 entering the game, while Mark Gottfried’s team was on a 5-game losing streak and was 0-5 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Who knew?
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The Wolfpack opened strong and aggressively scoring at ease from inside and out. As always, team leader and linchpin Anthony “Cat” Barber penetrated and scored at will. This time however, he had help from the likes of 6’7” freshman Maverick Rowan who drained three 3-pointers in the first half. Rowan’s contribution was especially painful to the Panthers considering the Pennsylvania native who moved to Ft. Lauderdale, FL in high school, was once a Pitt commit. Naturally, Rowan was the target of Pitt fans who knew of his history. Rowan responded on the night with 4 of 6 shooting from 3-point range and a total of 14 points.
HALFTIME: NC State 44 – PITT 19
The second half was more of the same. The Wolfpack was consistent and shot 50% from the field while never taking their foot off the accelerator to give Pitt a chance to come back. The closest Pitt got in the second half was 14 points at 56-42. To the dismay of Panther fans, Rowan hit a final 3-pointer with 8 seconds remaining in the game. Of course a chorus of boos erupted. This victory was much-needed and may help to right the ship after a miserable stretch.
Unfortunately for the Pack, the damage may already be done. An 0-5 hole is mighty tough to dig out of.
We’ll see.
Coach Gottfried said of the effort, ”Our guys have been battling, but we do need some confidence…winning changes the way you feel about yourself.”
Anthony “Cat” Barber –31 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists
Maverick Rowan—14 points
Lennard Freeman–4 points, 14 rebounds
Abdul Malik Abu –16 points, 10 rebounds
- NC State out-rebounded the Panthers 42 – 29
- The Pack shot 80% from the free throw line (16 for 20)…though Barber accounted for most of those at 14 for 14.
UP NEXT: #20 Duke Blue Devils
When: Saturday, January 23, 2016 @ 2:00 pm
Where: PNC Arena, Raleigh, NC
TV: CBS