NC State Defeats Davidson, Advances In NIT

DENTON, TX, – The NC State Wolfpack took down the Davidson Wildcats 75-61 to open their 2021 NIT Tournament, in a game where they dominated inside. Despite not getting a bid to the NCAA Tournament, the NIT was another opportunity to develop this young Wolfpack team.

After starting the game trading baskets, the Wolfpack went on a 12-2 run over four minutes, to hold a 14-4 lead at the 14:55 mark in the first half. DJ Funderburk and Jericole Hellems started the game strong, scoring five points each to lead pack early on.

Through the first eight minutes of the game, NC State was on fire from the field shooting 63% (9-13) to help give them a 20-11 lead with just under 12 minutes to play. The Wolfpack defense was able to hold Kellan Grady, who was the Wildcats leading scorer to just 1-5 from the field to start the game. Coming into the game, Gray was just ten points away from the 2000 point mark in his Davidson career.

The Pack were able to extend the lead to 13 (27-14) with eight minutes to play as Funderburk was dominating inside and stepping out and hitting jumpers. Over the next four and a half minutes, when Davidson cut into the lead, the Wolfpack responded right back and lead by 11 with 3:33 to play in the first half.

Davidson closed the half strong, as they cut the Wolfpack lead to eight (40-32). DJ Funderburk led all scorers with 14 points and five rebounds to lead the Pack at the half. NC State also saw a good first 20 minutes from Manny Bates with ten points. Kellan Grady led the Wildcats with ten points, which got him to 2,000 career points. The Pack were able to get easy points inside, as they scored 26 of their 40 first half points in the paint.

NC State coach Kevin Keatts had some high praise for Grady saying, “2,000 points is a lot of points and that kid is a great player.”

Davidson came out strong to start the second half, as they cut the lead to four just two and half minutes into the half.  NC State extended the lead back to eight at the under 16-minute media timeout. 

Following the break, the Pack extended the lead to 13 two minutes later, as Funderburk and Bates took control inside. The next possessions were the teams trading three-point baskets, as the Wolfpack lead 54-41 with 12 minutes to play. 

The next few minutes, we saw the Wolfpack bury three-pointer after three-pointer to extend the lead to 21 with nine minutes to play. Davidson rolled in a fast break layup before calling a timeout with 8:46 to play as NC State led 65-46. 

Davidson went on a small 5-0 run following the timeout to cut the lead to 14, before NC State responded and extended the lead to 19. Davidson then cut the lead to 14, as they trailed 70-56 with three minutes to play.

Davidson was never able to get closer then 11 points the rest of the game, as the Wolfpack closed out the Wildcats by knocking down late-game free-throws. 

NC State was lead by Funderburk with 21 points and seven rebounds and Manny Bates with 14 points and eight rebounds. Jericole Hellems also contributed 13 points for the Pack. Davidson was led by Luka Brajkovic with 15 points and Hyunjung Lee with 13 points. 

The Wolfpack owned the paint outscoring Davidson 38-26 inside. The Wolfpack were also able to outrebound Davidson 29-24 in the game.

Following the victory, NC State coach Kevin Keatts said, “I thought we executed the game plan better than any game all season.” 

NC State, (14-10, 9-8 ACC) moves on to face the winner of Colorado State and Buffalo Thursday March 25th, in the quaterfinals of the NIT Tournament.