RALEIGH — New-look N.C. State struggled for a half Friday night, but finally found a groove.
Resembling a veteran team in a critical stretch early in the second half, N.C. State blew open a tight game on the way to a 98-77 victory over Appalachian State in the season opener for both at PNC Arena.
"There was a lot to like,” Coach Mark Gottfried of the Wolfpack said. “I thought there were some spurts where we were really quick, we defended them really well, and our defense turned up our offense. We were able to get some easy baskets, get out and run…. We’ve got a lot to build on with these young guys.”
T.J. Warren, the only returning N.C. State player who started more than two games last season, shrugged off a slow start and scored a game-high 27 points, including 21 in the second half.
Of the newcomers, junior-college transfer Desmond Lee poured in 24 points, and freshman Anthony “Cat” Barber had 13 points and six assists.
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The Mountaineers, who trailed by just three early in the second half, got a career-high 24 points from senior Tevin Baskin.
The Wolfpack, with a revamped lineup necessitated by heavy losses from last season’s 24-11 team, shot 62 percent but struggled to pull away in the first half.
"For 33 minutes of the game we competed, we executed, and we did exactly what we planned to do,” Coach Jason Capel of Appalachian said. “The thing about this N.C. State team is you can’t allow them to get in transition. If you take quick shots or turn the ball over, they’ll make you pay. In that stretch in the second half, we took quick shots.”
And Warren led the decisive flurry.
"It took me a little while to get going,” said Warren, who also had a team-high eight rebounds and three steals. “We really wanted to attack them. Our guards can penetrate, and in the second half, they had the opportunity to do that. We did a very good job of finishing our shots.”
The Wolfpack successfully jammed the ball inside early stages in the second half and wound up outscoring the Mountaineers 60-24 in the lane. N.C. State started clicking in transition as well — pulling away with what turned out to be an overwhelming 31-7 run.
"I thought our young guys did really well out there,” said point guard Tyler Lewis of N.C. State, who had 15 points and six assists. “They’re going to play a huge role on our team this year. I thought Des did really well. It was his first game here, and he played outstanding.”
The Mountaineers came as close as 76-60 down the stretch.
"There was no intimidation factor,” Baskin said. “We had a few breakdowns that got us in trouble in the second half, and you can’t do that, but we fought. We fought hard.”
Tommy Spagnolo started in place of Jay Canty, the Mountaineers’ top returning scorer and rebounder who is academically ineligible until Dec. 18, and finished with eight points, a game-high 10 rebounds and three blocked shots.
Frank Eaves scored 12 points for the Mountaineers, who shot 49 percent, and Tab Hamilton added 11.
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