Game Summary:
You always worry about the games around the holidays, are the players distracted, will they maintain their quality of play? It did not appear that way early. To quote the great Lyle Lovett, that game was “ugly from the front.”
- It took 2 minutes for DW to pick up his first foul
- In the first 5 minutes, Wake had 7 3PT (of 9 shots)
- NC State had 5 turnovers in the first 5 mins
- It took 8 minutes (and change) for DW to pick up foul #2
- Copeland picked up foul #3 with under 3 minutes left in the half
- 11 turnovers in the first half
However, the Wolfpack was the more talented team and it showed. They built the lead up to 10 before ending the half leading 36-32.
The second half was much better. The Pack held the Deacs scoreless for the first 3:27 and built an 11-point lead. Wake Forest didn’t
score their 11th point for more than 13 minutes. NC State had as much as a 19-point lead before the Deacons closed the game with a small run. Final score 70-57.
Overall Takeaways:
- Wake Forest excels at steals, that is a strength. NC State had 10 steals to their 9
- “…the rotation’s no longer an issue” – Will Wade – The Pack played 8 (plus Ebube got 1 minute). Able played 18 minutes as the 8th man.
- 15 assists on 25 made baskets
- After having 11 turnovers in the first half, only 4 in the second
- The Wolfpack won the rebounds 40-35
- Points in the paint, NC State 38-24
Coach Wade Post Game Comments – (Includes a STRONG rant about Williams)
Individual Highlights
- “Darrion Williams is a DAMN GOOD PLAYER” – Will Wade
- Quadir picked up 3 fouls in the first half and only 1 in the second, and it was a technical with under 4 minutes left and the Pack with a 17 point lead
- Copeland led scoring with 14
- Lubin led rebounding with a double-double 12 pts, 11 rebounds
- Copeland led the team with 7 assists to match his 7 turnovers
- Copeland led the team in steals with 3
