NC State Holds Off Pittsburgh In Last Seconds

PITTSBURGH, PA – The NC State Wolfpack took a trip to Pittsburgh Wednesday for afternoon matchup with the Pitt Panthers. Despite committing 21 team fouls and turning the ball over 14 times, the Wolfpack were able to hold off the Panthers last second effort 74-73.

The Wolfpack have been one the best teams in the ACC forcing turnovers, as they have been ranked near the top all season, averaging almost 14 per game. The question in some games for this Wolfpack team is “can they defend so aggressively without fouling?” The Panthers have been one best teams in the ACC this season getting to the free throw line, as they ranked fourth in free-throw attempts this season.

The game got started fast for NC State, as they connected on five of their first six shots to start the game and took a 12-9 lead at the 15:57 mark in the first half.

This Wolfpack team looked hungry, as they came out aggressive and ready to play early on, scoring ten of the first 18 in the paint, forcing four turnovers and had three steals through the first eight and a half minutes. After scoring only 21 first half points against Duke on Saturday, NC State was able to reach that mark just nine minutes into the contest.

Both teams were firing back and forth with the hot shooting in the first half, but as the Wolfpack began to get in foul trouble, it allowed Pittsburgh to cut the once-was nine-point lead down to one at the half.

Despite shooting 17-30 (56.7%) from the field in the first half, NC State only held a one-point, 40-39 lead at the half. Despite having 12 assists as a team, forcing eight turnovers and outrebounding the Panthers in the first half, they committed seven turnovers and ten first half fouls. DJ Funderburk led the way with 13 points and five rebounds. Jericole Hellems contributed nine points and Cam Hayes scored seven points and had seven assists in the first half. Au’Diese Toney had a huge first half for Pitt, as he scored 14 points, with his only miss coming from the free-throw line.

The second half started with back and forth play as both teams picked up multiple fouls. Justin Champagnie scored five of the first nine for the Panthers, as the ACC’s leading scorer got his total up to 12 with 15 minutes to play.

As Pittsburgh received two technical fouls at the 13:34 mark, NC State was awarded free-throws and capitalized to extend the lead to eight.

Pittsburgh closed the deficit down to one with eight minutes remaining, as Jerciole Hellems picked up his fourth personal when he fouled Champgnie and then swiped the ball out of his hands and received a technical foul. This scene looked extremely familiar to last season, when Hellems placed the ball near Champagnie’s head which led to a technical foul.

As the Wolfpack started to extend the lead, the Panthers fought back and took their first lead since the 18:44 mark in the second half 68-67 when Jericole Hellems fouled out of the game with 3:26 remaining.

The game went back and forth with each team matching basket for basket when DJ Funderburk scored an and-one basket to take a 72-71 lead with 1:41 remaining in the game. Cam Hayes knocked down two free throws to take a three-point lead with 23 seconds remaining. Justin Champagnie knocked down two free-throws to cut the lead to one before NC State turned the ball over right away and gave Pittsburgh a last second opportunity, which they didn’t convert.

The Panthers were led by Justin Champagnie with 18 points and ten rebounds and Au’Diese Toney with 17 points. The Wolfpack were led by Jericole Hellems with 17 points and DJ Funderburk with 16 points and eight rebounds. Cam Hayes also stepped up huge for the Wolfpack, as he scored 11 points and dished out nine assists. The Wolfpack shot the ball well, as they went 29-51 (56.7%) from the field. They were also able to force 14 Panther turnovers.

The Wolfpack (9-9, 5-8 ACC,) looks to make it two wins in a row, as they head to Winston-Salem, North Carolina Saturday February 20th, to take on the Wake Forest Deamon Deacons.