N.C. State Cruises by St. Francis Brooklyn in Second Half

RALEIGH, N.C. – On a chilly, windy on Saturday, Nov. 19, in downtown Raleigh, the N.C. State Wolfpack men’s basketball team took on the Terriers from St. Francis College out of Brooklyn in front of a ruckus crowd at Reynolds Coliseum.

The Wolfpack got out to a bit of a slow start in the first half. Wolfpack head coach Kevin Keatts paced the sideline early – barking orders to his players. It was a tight game early with State leading 10-9 five minutes into the first half. NC State senior guard C.J. Bryce lead all scorers in the first half with 12 points to give N.C. State a 12-point at halftime. The Wolfpack also shot perfect form the 3-point line in the first half.

Coming out of the half the Terriers from St. Francis were overwhelmed by the Wolfpack’s intensity as they played with more pace and ran their lead to 19 within the five of the second. Starting senior point guard Markell Johnson said that coach Keatts told them at halftime to, “pick up their intensity and play like they know how to.”

And they did.

They extended their lead to 33 points and had full control of the game with five mins left. After grabbing 19 rebounds in the first half the Wolfpack finished strong with 30 rebounds in the second. Coach Keatts said he didn’t have to talk to his team about rebounding at the half because his assistant coaches were getting on them about picking up the rebounding. 

The Wolfpack won 95 to 64, and their record improved to 3-1 in the first two weeks of the season. Johnson led in rebounding and scoring with 11 rebounds and 22 points, and redshirt junior forward DJ Funderburk was second in scoring with 17 points. 

Next up, N.C. State (3-1) plays Alcorn State tomorrow night at 7pm in Reynolds Coliseum.

(Image courtesy of Landon Bost)