Wolfpack Fall To Colorado State In NIT Tourney

FRISCO, TX – The NC State Wolfpack fell to the Colorado State Rams in the NIT Quarterfinals 65-61 in an absolute thriller to end their 2020-2021 season. 

Early on it was the DJ Funderburk show, as he scored the first seven points for the Wolfpack to give them a 7-0 lead and force a Colorado State timeout. Last week in the postgame Funderburk said he “swears he could shoot,” and early on it showed as he buried a three-pointer at the top of the key. 

Over the next four minutes, Colorado State was able to outscore the Pack 9-4 but still trailed as the score was 11-9 with 11:26 left in the first half. During this period of the game, the Wolfpack had a two and a half minute scoring drought. The Wolfpack were controlling the inside as they scored eight of their first 11 in the paint. 

Following the media break, the Rams were able to take their first lead of the game by a score of 12-11 as Isiah Stevens knocked down a pair of free throws. The Wolfpack responded as Funderburk and Shakeel Moore sparked a 5-0 run to give the Pack a 16-12 lead at the under eight media timeout. 

Throughout the first 17 minutes of the game, the Wolfpack were using their size to their advantage scoring 16 of their first 26 points in the paint as they led the Rams 26-21 late in the first half. 

Funderburk picked up his third foul late in the first half which forced him to sit the rest of the first half, but the Wolfpack still held a 28-25 lead at the half. Funderburk led the Pack with 11 points and five rebounds and Manny Bates contributed seven points and five rebounds as well. Stevens and Kendle Moore scored six points each to lead the Rams early on. 

Colorado State connected on six of their first eight shots and sparked a 7-0 run to take a 38-35 lead to force a Kevin Keatts timeout with 15:07 to play. 

Following the timeout, NC State took a 39-38 lead as Shakeel Moore rolled in a layup but the Rams responded right back and took the lead back. NC State turned the ball over three times in the next two minutes and allowed the Rams to take a 44-41 lead with 10:53 remaining in the game. 

The teams were matching basket for basket over the next three minutes as the Rams held a 48-45 with 7:56 remaining. Colorado State had a huge spark from David Roddy who brought some energy for the Rams.

Colorado State went on a 7-0 run to take a 55-47 lead with 5:08 remaining in the game but Jericole Hellems scored a conventional three-point play to cut the lead to five. After the Rams extended the lead, Shakeel Moore buried a three to cut the lead to four with 4:22 left in the game.

NC State was able to cut the lead to three with under three and a half minutes but the Rams lead went back to five when Manny Bates was called for a goaltending violation. 

Jericole Hellems buried a corner three-pointer to cut the lead to two with 1:52 remaining but David Roddy hit a nasty fade-away jumper to give the Rams a four-point lead with 1:17 left in the game. DJ Funderburk slammed home a monster dunk to cut the Rams lead to two with one minute left. 

NC State had a chance to take the lead but the Jericole Hellems three-pointer hit the back of the rim. The Rams were able to close out the game with some late-game free-throws by Kendle Moore.

Colorado State was led by Isiah Stevens with 18 points and Kendle Moore and David Roddy with 16 points each. The Wolfpack were led by Jericole Hellems with 15 points and DJ Funderburk and Manny Bates with 13 points each. 

“I couldn’t be more proud of this team with everything we have gone through this season with COVID, the Devon Daniels injury and everything else,” NC State coach Kevin Keatts said following the game. 

Funderburk was extremely emotional choking up as he said, “I love these guys. I couldn’t ask for a better group of guys to play my final game with.”

The Wolfpack, (14-11, 9-8 ACC) will now put their attention to the offseason, as they look to develop their young players and have a strong recruiting class coming in.