Farnold Degand watches the final seconds of NC State's win over FSU tick away. Photo courtesy Ethan Hyman/N&O. Click the picture for a slide show from the game.
NC State might be the No. 11 seed in the ACC Tournament programs available at the Greensboro Coliseum, but for the second night in a row the Wolfpack certainly didn’t play the part. One night after upsetting No. 6 seed Clemson, NC State picked up another victory, picking off No. 3 seed Florida State 58-52 and earning a semi-final match up with No. 7 seed Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets knocked off No. 2 seed Maryland in the first game of the evening session, 69-64.
After committing 12 first half turnovers in an ugly first 20 minutes, the Wolfpack went to the locker room down three to the Seminoles, 25-28. In the second half, however, the Wolfpack turned it over just three times and outscored the ‘Noles by nine to pick up the six point victory.
Scott Wood put on a shooting display reminiscent of NC State’s trip to Florida State in January, a game in which Wood scored a career-high 31. On this night against the Noles, Wood poured in 18 points on 6 of 10 shooting. Two straight threes by Wood midway through the second half put NC State up by nine points and set the stage for the closing minutes.
Javi Gonzalez, who hurt his ankle against Clemson and was a game time decision against FSU, led NC State with 13 points, six assists, five rebounds and five steals. Tracy Smith, who suffered a hip injury in Friday night’s game, also finished with 13 points.
Gonzalez made the play of the night with two minutes remaining, stealing an entry pass before he fed Tracy Smith for a dunk which put NC State up 54-48.
Solomon Alabi led FSU with 13 points, nine rebounds and four blocks, but no other player scored in double figures.
Despite suffocating defense from Florida State for much of the night, the Wolfpack still managed to shoot 44 percent from the field and 46 percent from behind the arc, thanks mostly to Wood. State held the Seminoles to 38 percent shooting and Florida State shot just 3 of 18 from behind the arc. Go here for the full box score.
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March 12th, 2010 at 9:12 pm
GT just took out MD. MD is the toughest obstacle for Lowe in the last 4 years. Hope we will take care FS tonight.
March 12th, 2010 at 9:15 pm
Karl Hess worked the GT/UMd game, which means he’s not working OUR game.
ADVANTAGE: US.
March 12th, 2010 at 9:15 pm
Haith, Hewitt, and Lowe’s teams looking hot in #ACCT. Do hustle and intensity override bad coaching in big games?
March 12th, 2010 at 9:19 pm
What are the keys to the game? Personally we obviously need to shoot well. With that being said they need to win the rebound battle and continue to play aggressive defense like they did against Clemson. If they don’t shoot over 50% like they did in the Clemson game the rebounding and and defense will keep them in the game.
March 12th, 2010 at 9:21 pm
Rebounding (especially on the defensive end) and shooting. Doesn’t necessarily mean 3-point shooting, but the ‘Noles aren’t going to give State a lot of good looks inside.
March 12th, 2010 at 9:23 pm
Yeah I think someone from the outside needs to get going. Horner is what I am hoping for. He is due for a “outside game”. I think Degand will be a difference maker if he can push it with control
March 12th, 2010 at 9:25 pm
Scott Wood is the one that is due.
Can we see a repeat of last time please??
March 12th, 2010 at 9:27 pm
“Haith, Hewitt, and Lowe’s teams looking hot in #ACCT. Do hustle and intensity override bad coaching in big games?”
I think desperation, and conversely, complacency, has something to do with it. Though I am shocked VT did not put forth a better effort considering their history of being snubbed in the past. Going to be a very interesting Selection Sunday.
March 12th, 2010 at 9:28 pm
Yeah anyone who can get hot from the perimeter. That only helps the inside. Howell has taken his game up a notch. If he can continue that it only helps Smith and other inside players
March 12th, 2010 at 9:28 pm
Good, Javi is able to go.
We’ll need everybody tonight.
March 12th, 2010 at 9:29 pm
howell has been a savior!!
he’s got alot of upside
March 12th, 2010 at 9:31 pm
“I think desperation, and conversely, complacency, has something to do with it. Though I am shocked VT did not put forth a better effort considering their history of being snubbed in the past. Going to be a very interesting Selection Sunday.”
Yeah we saw that in Purnell’s comments in the loss last night. He talked about being able to bring intensity when you beleive you have a tourney bid locked up. I agree with you the coaches have to get the players in the right frame of mind.
March 12th, 2010 at 9:34 pm
I like we when we play in red!!!
March 12th, 2010 at 9:37 pm
I prefer this to the live blog
Smith is the key to this
Nice shot by Horner
March 12th, 2010 at 9:38 pm
Javi looks gimpy
March 12th, 2010 at 9:40 pm
Nice shot Smith. Got some arc on that
March 12th, 2010 at 9:40 pm
We may not have Karl Hess, but we do have Mike Wood (he of the charge call against Horner in the home game vs. UVa infamy).
Wood may be worse. He makes some unbelievably atrocious calls, usually at critcal game changing moments.
March 12th, 2010 at 9:40 pm
Shooters touch!!
March 12th, 2010 at 9:41 pm
Officiating tends to even out over time.
March 12th, 2010 at 9:42 pm
Good start! Defense is ok, but we are limiting them to one shot except for one offense rebound. They have to crash the boards and keep the second shots to a minimum
March 12th, 2010 at 9:46 pm
Mays has to be careful with the ball
March 12th, 2010 at 9:46 pm
Mays
March 12th, 2010 at 9:47 pm
Mays cost Wood two wide open shots on that posession by not getting him the ball quick enough and then he threw FSU a free two points.
That’s how you lose games.
Good screens were set for Wood on two seperate occassions and Mays was sloppy.
Come on Julius.
March 12th, 2010 at 9:47 pm
Johnny Thomas in again.
March 12th, 2010 at 9:49 pm
Need to use FSU aggessiveness against them. Go back door and cut screens