NC State Concludes Their Homestand With Mercer
On Saturday NC State out of the Atlantic Coast Conference will conclude their six game homestand with Mercer who is a member of the Southern Conference.
NC State comes into the game with a record of 5-0 while Mercer comes into the game with a record 3-2.
As for NC State’s previous game, they defeated Saint Peter’s on Tuesday.
The NC State men's basketball team secured its second 5-0 start to a season in as many years under head coach Kevin Keatts as it defeated Saint Peter's, 85-57, inside PNC Arena Tuesday evening. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/11/20/mens-basketball-wolfpack-downs-saint-peters.aspx
The Wolfpack continued to showcase its scoring depth as all 10 members of the team who saw action in the game found the scoring column. NC State has seen all of its players score in each of its five games this young season. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/11/20/mens-basketball-wolfpack-downs-saint-peters.aspx
Torin Dorn led the team in scoring with 12 points, and Eric Lockett followed with 11 points in his first double-digit scoring performance in an NC State uniform. Braxton Beverly and Jericole Hellems also hit double figures with 10 points apiece. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/11/20/mens-basketball-wolfpack-downs-saint-peters.aspx
Five NC State players dished out at least three assists as the Wolfpack assisted on 20 of its 27 field goals. Sophomore guard Blake Harris led the Pack with four assists. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/11/20/mens-basketball-wolfpack-downs-saint-peters.aspx
The Peacocks hung tight with the Pack in the early minutes of the outing, hitting six of its first nine shots before Dorn nailed a three pointer at the 15:24 mark of the first half to tie the score at 13. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/11/20/mens-basketball-wolfpack-downs-saint-peters.aspx
The basket was the start of a 40-6 run by NC State that spanned over 12 minutes of game time. During that run, the Wolfpack held Saint Peter's to 0-for-12 from the field and forced the Peacocks into seven turnovers.”according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/11/20/mens-basketball-wolfpack-downs-saint-peters.aspx
NC State shot 9-for-11 (.818) from behind the arc in the first 20 minutes on the way to building up a 59-27 halftime lead, and the Peacocks got no closer than 24 in the second half as the Pack closed out its victory. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/11/20/mens-basketball-wolfpack-downs-saint-peters.aspx
Like NC State, Mercer won their previous game as they crushed Maryland Eastern Shore on Tuesday.
Mercer raced out to a 45-14 halftime lead enroute to posting its second consecutive win as the Bears defeated the University of Maryland Eastern Shore 80-42 Tuesday night at Hawkins Arena.”according to https://mercerbears.com/news/2018/11/20/mens-basketball-mercer-runs-past-maryland-eastern-shore-in-hoffmans-600th-career-win.aspx
Freshman guard DJ Peavy led a balanced Mercer scoring attack, tallying a game-high 15 points on five of seven shooting from the floor. Peavy connected on all three of his three point attempts and displayed his athletic ability with a highlight reel dunk at the conclusion of the first half. Junior forward Cory Kilby scored 13, the second most in his Mercer career, while junior guard Djordje Dimitrijevic went for 12 and handed out a game-high four assists. Sophomore guard Ross Cummings scored 10, while freshman post man Fardaws Aimaq scored nine and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds. “according to https://mercerbears.com/news/2018/11/20/mens-basketball-mercer-runs-past-maryland-eastern-shore-in-hoffmans-600th-career-win.aspx
Mercer hit 52.6% of its field goals (30-57), including 43.5% from three point land (10-23). The Bears dominated the backboards, outrebounding UMES 38-23. Mercer also outscored the Hawks in the paint 39-20. “according to https://mercerbears.com/news/2018/11/20/mens-basketball-mercer-runs-past-maryland-eastern-shore-in-hoffmans-600th-career-win.aspx
Leading 9-2 at the 15:29 mark of the opening half, the Bears went on a 24-10 run to grab a commanding 33-12 lead with 4:51 left in the first half. The lead ballooned to 31 at the half, accentuated by Peavy's slam dunk prior to the buzzer sounding for intermission. “according to https://mercerbears.com/news/2018/11/20/mens-basketball-mercer-runs-past-maryland-eastern-shore-in-hoffmans-600th-career-win.aspx
Mercer came out a bit sluggish in the second half, trading baskets with the Hawks over the first 10 minutes of the final stanza. Leading 52-29 with 11:35 remaining in the contest, Mercer proceeded to go on a 16-2 run over the next six minutes to extend the lead to 37. The Bears were able to substitute freely down the stretch with Mercer claiming the 80-42 victory. “according to https://mercerbears.com/news/2018/11/20/mens-basketball-mercer-runs-past-maryland-eastern-shore-in-hoffmans-600th-career-win.aspx
Montraz Oliver led UMES with 13 points followed by Bryan Urrutia who had 12. The Hawks were able to connect on just 31.9% of their field goal attempts (15-47), including just three of 16 (.188) from behind the arc.”according to https://mercerbears.com/news/2018/11/20/mens-basketball-mercer-runs-past-maryland-eastern-shore-in-hoffmans-600th-career-win.aspx
Mercer improves to 3-2 on the season while UMES falls to 0-5.”according to https://mercerbears.com/news/2018/11/20/mens-basketball-mercer-runs-past-maryland-eastern-shore-in-hoffmans-600th-career-win.aspx
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Freshman guard DJ Peavy led all scorers with 15 points, hitting five of seven field goals, including all three of his three point attempts. This all came about in just 15 minutes of playing time. “according to https://mercerbears.com/news/2018/11/20/mens-basketball-mercer-runs-past-maryland-eastern-shore-in-hoffmans-600th-career-win.aspx
NOTABLES
Mercer had four players score in double figures – Peavy (15), Kilby (13), Dimtrijevic (12), and Cummings (10).
Mercer won the battle of the boards in convincing fashion 38-23.
Freshman Fardaws Aimaq pulled down a season-high 10 rebounds for the Bears. Aimaq nearly collected a double-double, scoring nine points on the evening.
Twelve Bears saw action in the game, with 10 players scoring.
Mercer connected on 52.6% of its field goal attempts and 43.5% of its three point tries.
Over the past 10-plus seasons, Mercer is the winningest men's basketball program in the state of Georgia with 201 victories. “according to https://mercerbears.com/news/2018/11/20/mens-basketball-mercer-runs-past-maryland-eastern-shore-in-hoffmans-600th-career-win.aspx
QUOTABLES
Coach Bob Hoffman – "I thought the first half we played really well; it was the best half we've played so far. We were connecting in every area. The beginning of the second half we didn't respond very well. I thought they (UMES) came out to try to prove a point and they did. I wasn't very pleased with how we started the second half. DJ Peavy has been our leading scorer twice now in five games; he's still trying to figure everything out, but he's quite an athlete. CJ (Williamson) is still trying to get in the swing of things but he's coming around. I think our young guys still have a ways to go, but I think that we if can keep improving we could be a deep team before too long. I think Marcus (Cohen) and Djordje (Dimitrijevic) complement each other pretty well. (On Saturday's game at North Carolina State) NC State will press us once we get off the bus; they a very good team so we'll have to be really, really good on Saturday." “according to https://mercerbears.com/news/2018/11/20/mens-basketball-mercer-runs-past-maryland-eastern-shore-in-hoffmans-600th-career-win.aspx
RECORDS UPDATE
Mercer: (3-2, 0-0 SoCon)
UMES: (0-5, 0-0 MEAC)
“according to https://mercerbears.com/news/2018/11/20/mens-basketball-mercer-runs-past-maryland-eastern-shore-in-hoffmans-600th-career-win.aspx
Tip-off is set for 5:30pm from PNC Arena. The game will be televised on ACC Network Extra. “according to https://mercerbears.com/schedule.aspx?path=mbball