NC State Takes On Penn State In The Boardwalk Classic
It’s been nine days since NC State took on an opponent.
On Saturday December 15th NC State who is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference will take on Penn State who is a member of the Big Ten in the Boardwalk Classic.
NC State comes into the game with a record of 8-1 while Penn State comes into the game with a record of 5-4.
As for NC State’s previous game they defeated Western Carolina on Wednesday December 5th.
The NC State men's basketball team defeated Western Carolina on Wednesday night, 100-67, in its annual Heritage game at James T. Valvano Arena at Reynolds Coliseum to improve to 8-1 for the first time since the 2004-05 season. Devon Daniels led all scorers with 21 points. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/12/5/mens-basketball-wolfpack-defeats-catamounts-xx-in-heritage-game.aspx
The evening opened with a special ceremony as the arena inside Reynolds Coliseum was officially dedicated for former head coach, Jim Valvano. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/12/5/mens-basketball-wolfpack-defeats-catamounts-xx-in-heritage-game.aspx
Leading 45-33 at half, the Wolfpack shook off the Catamounts in the second half to christen the newly dedicated arena with a win. The Wolfpack forced 21 of Western Carolina's 33 turnovers in the second half as the Pack tied its season-high with 13 steals. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/12/5/mens-basketball-wolfpack-defeats-catamounts-xx-in-heritage-game.aspx
The 33 turnovers are the most for an NC State opponent in the Kevin Keatts era and the most since at least the 2001-02 season. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/12/5/mens-basketball-wolfpack-defeats-catamounts-xx-in-heritage-game.aspx
The Pack opened the second half by scoring the first 10 points to extend its lead to 22 points just three minutes into the final period. WCU would never get closer than 20 points the rest of the way as NC State shot 56.7 percent from the field, including 53.8 percent (7-of-13) from long range in the second period. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/12/5/mens-basketball-wolfpack-defeats-catamounts-xx-in-heritage-game.aspx
NC State's bench scored 32 of the Pack's 55 points in the second half as Jericole Hellems (16) and Blake Harris (15) both finished the game with career-highs in points. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/12/5/mens-basketball-wolfpack-defeats-catamounts-xx-in-heritage-game.aspx
NC State took care of the ball in the first half, only committing two turnovers, as the Pack opened up a double-digit lead midway through the first half and kept the Catamounts at bay throughout the opening 20 minutes. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/12/5/mens-basketball-wolfpack-defeats-catamounts-xx-in-heritage-game.aspx
Daniels sparked NC State early with nine points in the opening six minutes of play. The sophomore guard tallied 16 points in the first half on 7-for-10 shooting from the floor.”according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/12/5/mens-basketball-wolfpack-defeats-catamounts-xx-in-heritage-game.aspx
NC State has held a victory margin of at least 15 points in seven of its first nine games for the first time since the 1998-99 season. It is the first time since the 1995-96 season that the Pack has scored 100 points in three of its first nine games. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/12/5/mens-basketball-wolfpack-defeats-catamounts-xx-in-heritage-game.aspx
Like NC State, Penn State also won their previous game as they topped Colgate University.
Three Nittany Lions scored in double figures, led by freshman guard Rasir Bolton with a career-best 27 points, as Penn State pulled away from Colgate for a 76-65 win at the Bryce Jordan Center Saturday afternoon. Redshirt junior forward Mike Wakins, making his first start of the 2018-19 season, and junior forward Lamar Stevens both recorded double-doubles in the victory. “according to https://gopsusports.com/news/2018/12/8/mens-basketball-bolton-watkins-and-stevens-lead-nittany-lions-past-colgate.aspx
"I like our defense, I like where we're at there," said Penn State coach Patrick Chambers. "Obviously we did a heck of a job rebounding today. I want to play with more pace and tempo, I think we have to push the ball more, we've got great speed…and I think we have to use it on the offensive end and play with more energy and pace to put defenses on their heels. Maybe put a group out there that's starting to get cohesive. I'm still mixing with lineups and I just changed the starting lineup today. So hopefully we could settle in on a starting lineup and settle on a rotation." “according to https://gopsusports.com/news/2018/12/8/mens-basketball-bolton-watkins-and-stevens-lead-nittany-lions-past-colgate.aspx
Watkins, making his first start of the 2018-19 season, recorded his 21st career double-double with 18 points and 16 rebounds, with 12 points in the second half and 10 rebounds in the first. Stevens his sixth career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds in the victory. “according to https://gopsusports.com/news/2018/12/8/mens-basketball-bolton-watkins-and-stevens-lead-nittany-lions-past-colgate.aspx
The double-double duo combined for 22 of the Nittany Lions' points in the second half and eight points in the final 4:04. “according to https://gopsusports.com/news/2018/12/8/mens-basketball-bolton-watkins-and-stevens-lead-nittany-lions-past-colgate.aspx
Reaves found Watkins on the baseline for a rim-shaking dunk with just over four minutes to play that gave Penn State a six-point lead, 63-57. Reaves finished his night with nine points and game-high totals in assists (5) and steals (3). With his three steals, Reaves tied former Tim Frazier for fourth on Penn State's career steals list with 193. “according to https://gopsusports.com/news/2018/12/8/mens-basketball-bolton-watkins-and-stevens-lead-nittany-lions-past-colgate.aspx
Watkins scored 12 of his 18 points in the final 10 minutes of the game which included his two free throws and layup in the final 2:24. Reaves added a trey with one minute left to push Penn State back to a double-digit lead. Bolton had his final two free throws for his career-best 27 total. “according to https://gopsusports.com/news/2018/12/8/mens-basketball-bolton-watkins-and-stevens-lead-nittany-lions-past-colgate.aspx
Baskets by Watkins and Stevens gave the Lions a brief nine-point lead with 9:27 to play. A three by Francisco Amiel drew Colgate back within six, and free throws by Will Rayman and Jordan Burns' three-straight field goals, including a trey, cut the Nittany Lion lead to only three before Penn State was able to pull away over the next two minutes. “according to https://gopsusports.com/news/2018/12/8/mens-basketball-bolton-watkins-and-stevens-lead-nittany-lions-past-colgate.aspx
Turnovers, a Penn State scoring drought and 60 percent shooting from the floor in the first 7:20 minutes of the second half opened the door for Colgate to pull within seven points, 53-46. “according to https://gopsusports.com/news/2018/12/8/mens-basketball-bolton-watkins-and-stevens-lead-nittany-lions-past-colgate.aspx
Penn State connected on seven 3-pointers in the first half as Bolton started 4-4 from behind the 3-point arc and had 17 points by the break. The Nittany Lions used a 10-0 run over four minutes to extend the led by as many as 19 points. For the third game this year, Penn State had double digits in 3-point field goals with 10 total. “according to https://gopsusports.com/news/2018/12/8/mens-basketball-bolton-watkins-and-stevens-lead-nittany-lions-past-colgate.aspx
Colgate had three quick turnovers to start the game, and paired with points from Josh Reaves, Watkins and Bolton, gave Penn State an early 7-0 lead. The Raiders made a run during a Nittany Lion cold spell late in the half and scored 17 points. Stevens carried Penn State with three-straight jumpers to close the period. “according to https://gopsusports.com/news/2018/12/8/mens-basketball-bolton-watkins-and-stevens-lead-nittany-lions-past-colgate.aspx
Burns, the Raiders' leading scorer, had only three points at the half and finished with 10 for the game. Rayman had 15 points and seven rebounds to lead Colgate with two other Raiders in double digits. “according to https://gopsusports.com/news/2018/12/8/mens-basketball-bolton-watkins-and-stevens-lead-nittany-lions-past-colgate.aspx
Tip-off is set for 2:00pm from the Boardwalk Hall. The game will be televised on ESPNU.