OBSERVATIONS FROM THE GAME: Syracuse
Here is a look at the highs and lows from NC State's 74-70 huge road win at Syracuse.
The depth and long-term impact of its importance will be known more as time goes by but it is clear that NC State picked up a big road victory Wednesday.
After holding an eight-point lead only to see the game tied with less than a minute remaining, the Wolfpack used a late three-pointer from Markell Johnson and held Syracuse scoreless the rest of the way to earn a, 74-70, win over Syracuse at the Carrier Dome to improve to 17-9 overall and 7-6 in the ACC.
The loss drops Syracuse to 17-9 overall and 6-7 in conference play. With the win, the Pack has a needed head-to-head tiebreaker against the Orange as the muddled middle of the ACC standings will become more clear in the next two weeks.
The context of the win’s importance may not be known for weeks or even years. Just as NC State gained leverage with its win in the current season, head coach Kevin Keatts could potentially use a NCAA Tournament berth in his first season with the Wolfpack to his advantage when building his program over the next few campaigns.
HIGHLIGHTS
With the joy of his sensational performance in Chapel Hill beginning to wear off, Allerik Freeman, was once again clutch for the Wolfpack in a big road win. Freeman led NC State with 17 points and also tied for a team-best with five assists.
He finished the game 7-of-14 from the floor after starting 1-of-5. When Syracuse rallied and pressed late, Freeman provided a sense of calm and stability by making sure the Wolfpack could get the ball into the frontcourt. There were several instances where he would have been credited with the ‘hockey assist’ as his pass to the player who ultimately found the teammate that scored gave NC State the ball movement it needed against the vaunted Syracuse zone.
* It is remarkable how players that had become an afterthought contributed when NC State needed them most. Sam Hunt made 4-of-6 threes and the Wolfpack needed all of them. Hunt even drifted away from his seemingly preferred spot on the baseline to drill an important shot near the top of the key.
* Lavar Batts Jr. was even deeper into the abyss having barely played in the past two games in a pair of coach’s decisions that left NC State followers concerned.
Batts did not set the world on fire, or even score for that matter, but he had four assists and played some important defense for the Wolfpack and it accentuates the role he can have as NC State makes a push for postseason play.
* After getting absolutely hammered on the boards in the home loss to North Carolina, the Pack matched the Orange with nine offensive rebounds.
* The Wolfpack also enjoyed a 20-8 advantage in bench scoring, buoyed by Hunt. The shooting was above 50 percent again, as NC State made 27-of-49 field goal attempts.
* Markell Johnson finished with 16 points, five assists, five rebounds and -- unfortunately for NC State -- five fouls. His three-pointer with less than 35 seconds remaining gave the Pack a lead it would not relinquish.
It was the biggest shot of the game. Time will tell if it becomes more important than that.
LOWLIGHTS
Syracuse outscored NC State 32-14 on points off of turnovers despite the Wolfpack committing 19 turnovers and the Orange nearly matching it with 15.
When the Pack gave up the ball it did not lead to fast break points, Syracuse only had four in the game, so perhaps there is some element of coincidence there. However it happened, the best offense for the Orange was to attack after NC State miscues.
* The zone defense is more predicated on making teams miss shots, not turn it over. The Pack had some unforced errors and it nearly cost them a big win.
* NC State to its credit survived major foul woes. The Orange missed eight free throws -- that helped the Pack -- but State committed 26 fouls to only 16 for Syracuse.
* Much to Markell Johnson’s chagrin, both teams were tied with one technical foul each.
* Torin Dorn Jr. struggled. His help offs allowed Syracuse open looks from three-point range late and the early foul trouble seemed to take him out of the game, although for some reason he physically was still in the game.
STAT OF THE GAME
Sam Hunt season scoring average: 4.1 points per game
Sam Hunt versus Syracuse: 14 points
Sam Hunt in previous eight games prior to Syracuse: 21 points combined
QUOTE OF THE GAME
"Like any shooter, you see one go in and it's like the rest are going in all the way. My teammates were able to find me and I was able to get open looks so I give them credit for finding me. We ran a couple of different plays throughout the whole second half and first half that opened up the zone from spacing it, penetrating it, driving it, screening the zone. We were able to get in different offenses throughout the whole game." -- Sam Hunt