The Wolfpack loses a 14-point lead in the second half
Game Summary:
The team we saw in the first half is a team that could do some damage in the ACC.
We started fast, hitting 4-5 of our first shots. Both teams shot well, UVA shot 52% in the half, but only 29% from 3PT. NC State shot 61.9% and a very impressive 54.5% from 3PT. We had 11 assists on 13 made baskets. Jayden Taylor, not normally a great passer, led with 5 assists to go with a game high 11 points. 39-29 Pack at the half.
Unfortunately, the team we saw in the second half looked more familiar. The Wolfpack held a 14-point lead at the 18:48 mark, and then let it slip away. NC State shot 33.3% in the second half and 16.7% (2-12) from 3PT. Not coincidentally, the Pack only had 3 assists. At the same time, the Cavs shot 56.5% and 53.8% from 3PT. UVA scored 41 points, one of their better halves of the season. Virginia wins the second half by 13, for a 3-point win, 70-67.
Unfortunate that Ben Middlebrooks, who has started at center the last five games, was sick and unable to play.
Overall Takeaways:
- The Pack looked outstanding in the first half, but stopped sharing the ball – only 3 assists in the second half
- Virginia was held to 2 made 3PT shots in the first half, but hit 7 in the second – they got too many open looks
- The flip side of that was, NC State was 6-11 in the first half from 3PT, but 2-12 in the second.
- NC State had one of our best rebounding games, outrebounding the Cavs 34-22.
- The Wolfpack had 11 turnovers, Huntley-Hatfield accounted for 4
Keatts Comments
Individual Highlights
- Ben Middlebrooks was sick and spent the game in the locker room receiving fluids
- Because Middlebrooks was out, Diouf got 13 minutes and scored 2 points and got 4 rebounds
- Jayden Taylor led the team with 14 points and 5 assists
- Marcus Hill led the team in rebounding with 8