NC State Plays at No. 12 Auburn After Emotional Win

The N.C. State Wolfpack (8-2, 1-1 ACC) are 9-9 during the Kevin Keatts era after emotional wins – games won by fewer than two possessions,  in overtime or against ranked opponents.

They play an undefeated (9-0)  No. 12 Auburn Tigers on the road tonight at 9 p.m. after defeating UNC Greensboro 80-77 from a game-winning, half-court shot by senior guard Markell Johnson.

 

The Wolfpack defeated Auburn – who were ranked seventh in the country – 78-71 last year at PNC Arena. 

This season, Auburn has yet to face a Power Five opponent.

“Offensively, (N.C. State) is really good,” said Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl. “Markell Johnson will be the best guard we’ve played against and probably the best one-on-one ball-screen cover we will have.”

For N.C. State to end their toughest five-game stretch of the season thus far with four consecutive wins, graduate senior forward Pat Andree has to be an offensive threat, they must force Auburn to score from the perimeter and they have to stay out of foul trouble.

 

Finding Andree

N.C. has five players averaging in double-figures.

“Right now there’s not a team in the SEC firing on the offensive cylinders that (N.C. State) is firing on,” Pearl said. “This will be as good as an offensive team we play”

However, their two best 3-point shooters, junior guard Braxton Beverly and Andree aren’t included in that group.

Andree lifted himself out of six-game shooting slump with an N.C. State career-high 15 points from five 3-pointers.

Andree’s size and ability to stretch the floor are key against Auburn offensively, but his lateral quickness isn’t the best and that could lead to matchup problems on the other end of the floor.

Auburn’s 3-Point Shooting

The Tigers have only shot above 40 percent from the three-point line twice this season, and only have one player –  redshirt sophomore guard Jamal Johnson – who’s shooting above 40 percent individually.

Staying Out of Foul Trouble

Auburn’s players will challenge N.C. State at the rim and the Wolfpack must defend without fouling. Bench depth has been a concern for the Wolfpack this season.

How to Watch 

Tip-off: 9 p.m. EST at Auburn Arena in Auburn, Ala.

Watch: ESPN2 

Listen: Wolfpack Sports Network Radio, TuneIn Radio 

N.C. State’s Emotional-Win Table During Keatts Era

2017-2018

Emotional Win	Next Game (wins in bold)
11/22/17: 90-84 vs. No. 2 Arizona   (neutral site, Battle 4 Atlantis)	11/23/17: 64-60 loss vs Northern Iowa  (neutral site Battle 4 Atlantis)
01/06/18: 96-85 vs. No. 2 Duke	01/11/18: 78-77 win vs. No. 19 Clemson
01/11/18: 78-77 win vs. No. 19 Clemson	01/14/18: 68-51 loss vs. At No. 3 Virginia
1/24/18: 72-68 win at Pittsburgh	1/27/18: 95-91 OT win at No. 10 North Carolina
1/27/18: 95-91 OT win at No. 10 North Carolina	02/03/18: 76-58 win vs. Notre Dame
2/14/18: 74-70 win at Syracuse	02/17/18: 90-84 win at Wake Forest
2/17/18: 90-84 win at Wake Forest	02/20/19: 82-66 win vs. Boston College

2018-19

Emotional Win	Next Game
11/24/18: 78-74 vs. Mercer	11/27/18: 79-75 loss at No. 22 Wisconsin
12/19/18: 78-71 vs. No. 7 Auburn	12/22/18: 98-71 win vs USC Upstate
01/03/19: 87-82 at Miami	01/08/19: 90-82 loss vs. No. 12 North Carolina
01/12/19: 86-80 vs Pittsburgh	01/15/19: 71-67 loss at Wake Forest
01/19/19: 77-73 at Notre Dame	01/24/19: 84-77 loss at No. 23 Louisville
01/26/19: 69-67 vs. Clemson	1/29/19 66-65 OT Loss vs No. 3 Virginia
02/09/19: 79-76 at Pittsburgh	2/13/19: 73-58 win vs. Syracuse
2/20/19: 89-80 OT vs. Boston College	02/24/19: 94-74 win vs. Wake Forest
03/13/19: 59-58 vs. Clemson  (neutral site, ACC Tournament)	03/14/19: 76-56 loss vs. No. 2 Virginia   (neutral site, ACC Tournament)
03/19/19: 84-78 vs. Hofstra   (NIT Tournament)	03/24/19: 78-77 win vs. Harvard   (NIT Tournament)
03/24/19: 78-77 vs. Harvard   (NIT Tournament)	03/27/19: 94-93 loss vs. Lipscomb   (NIT Tournament)

2019-20

Emotional Win	Next Game
12/15/19: 80-77 at UNC Greensboro	12/19/19: TBD at No.12 Auburn

 

Images courtesy of Landon Bost