NOTEBOOK: Pack Back In Action Tonight
No. 20 NC State returns to action tonight in PNC Arena against Loyola University Maryland. Here are some pregame notes on the Wolfpack.
Pack Tracks
- NC State scored a school-record 62 bench points on Saturday to defeat USC Upstate, 98-71. The Pack had four players scored in double figures off-the-bench led by Eric Lockett with 15 points. Devon Daniels (13), DJ Funderburk (13) and Jericole Hellems (13) also scored in double figures off-the-bench for NC State.
- The Pack’s bench is averaging 35 points per game this season and has had 17 individual double-digit scoring performances. The Pack has scored 40+ points off the bench in five games this season. Since PNC Arena opened prior to the 1999-2000 season, six of the top-16 bench scoring performances have come under Kevin Keatts coached teams.
- Junior guard Markell Johnson was named the ACC Player of the Week after his performance in the Pack’s win over No. 7 Auburn last Wednesday. Johnson scored 19 of his career-high 27 points in the second half. In addition to his career-high in points, he also connected on a career-high five three-pointers and had a season-best three steals in the win.
- Back in the Associated Press Top-25: The Pack is ranked 20th in the AP poll that was released on Dec. 24. It’s NC State’s first appearance in the AP Top-25 since the Jan. 26, 2013 poll. It’s the first time since the 2005-06 season, NC State started the season unranked and worked its way into the AP top-25 rankings during non-conference play.
NC State - Loyola University Maryland Series
- Friday marks the fifth all-time meeting between the two programs.
- NC State leads the all-time series, 4-0.
- The Pack won the last meeting between the two teams, 62-60, on Dec. 29, 2008.
Friday Storylines
- A win on Friday would give NC State a 12-1 record for the first time since the 2005-06 team started the season with a 12-1 record.
- The Pack has won 11 consecutive games inside PNC Arena. A win on Friday would give the Pack its longest winning streak at PNC Arena since NC State won 12 games from Feb. 29, 2012 to Jan. 26, 2013.
- Five different players have led NC State in scoring this season. Braxton Beverly (1x) Devon Daniels (2x), Torin Dorn (5x), Markell Johnson (3x) and Eric Lockett (1x) have led the Pack in scoring. NC State relies on a balanced scoring attack. All 10 players on the roster have scored in double figures in at least one game this season and six of the players are shooting 50 percent or better from the field.
- NC State leads the ACC and ranks fifth in the NCAA in field goal percentage at 51.8%. The Pack has shot better than 50 percent in eight of 12 games this season. NC State’s three-point field goal percentage of 41.2% is second in the ACC and ranks eighth in the NCAA. The Pack and Creighton are the only teams in the NCAA to rank in the top-10 in both categories.
- NC State’s largest deficit of the season is seven points (against Mercer on 11/24) and the Pack has only trailed in the second half of two games this season (Wisconsin and Penn State). NC State trailed Penn State by one in the second half before going on a 22-6 run to take control of the game. The Pack led Wisconsin for the entire second half until the Badgers took the lead with two minutes to go. Wisconsin did not make it a two possession game until under 10 seconds remained.
Markell Johnson named ACC Player of the Week
- Johnson was named ACC Player of the Week on Sunday, Dec. 23 following his performance in the Pack’s win over seventh-ranked Auburn.
- Johnson scored a career-high 27 points in the win, connecting on 9-of-15 field goal attempts, including 5-of-8 from three-point range. The Cleveland, Ohio, native scored 19 of his 27 points in the second half as the ACC Honorable Mention selection last season took over the game.
- Auburn only led for 44 seconds on Dec. 19, but had managed to tie the Pack at 47 with 10 minutes remaining when Johnson took over. He hit a three to put the Pack back in front and on the next trip down hit a three-pointer as he was fouled. The ensuing free throw put NC State up five. On the Pack’s next possession, Johnson pulled up in transition and knocked down a three-pointer to put NC State up eight with 8:32 to play. Auburn would never get closer than five points the rest of the way. Johnson’s flurry of 10 points came in 1:15 of game time as the Pack went on to defeat a non-conference top-10 opponent at home for the first time since 1986.
- In addition to his career-high in points and three-pointers made, Johnson also tied his season-high with three steals in the win and had a team-best four assists.