NC State Faces Harvard In The Second Round Of The NIT In Raleigh

On Sunday NC State out of the Atlantic Coast Conference will host the National Invitational Tournament in North Carolina’s state capital where they will take on Harvard who is a member of the Ivy League in the second round.

Harvard’s head coach is Tommy Amaker who played four years at Duke for Mike Krzyzewski, was named National Defensive Player Of The Year Amaker helped lead the Blue Devils to a 108-30 record, four NCAA Tournaments, and an appearance in the 1986 Final Four. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=220666

The 1986-87 season was a special one for Amaker as he not only earned All-America honors but was also named National Defensive Player of the Year. Amaker's 259 career steals and 708 assists rank second all-time at Duke. In 1988, Amaker rejoined Krzyzewski and the Blue Devils as a graduate assistant while he took classes at Duke's Fuqua School of Business. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=220666

Amaker remained on the staff for nine years, helping the Blue Devils capture two national championships, three Final Four appearances, and a 230-80 record overall. Following the 1996-97 season Amaker took the head coaching job at Seton Hall University, compiling a 68-55 record before the University of Michigan came calling with a head coaching job. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=220666

NC State comes into the game with a record of 23-11 while Harvard comes into the game with a record of 19-11 while Harvard comes into the game with a record of 19-11.

As for how NC State advanced to the second round they topped Hofstra in North Carolina’s state capital on Tuesday night.

The NC State men's basketball team defeated Hofstra Tuesday night, 84-78, inside James T. Valvano Arena at Reynolds Coliseum. Markell Johnson led the Pack in scoring, coming alive in the second half to collect 20 of his 26 points in the closing 20 minutes. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/3/19/mens-basketball-pack-outlasts-hofstra-84-78.aspx

Johnson's 26 points tied him with former Pack legend Hawkeye Whitney for the most points scored by an NC State player in an NIT game. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/3/19/mens-basketball-pack-outlasts-hofstra-84-78.aspx

Torin Dorn (19 pts.) and C.J. Bryce (18 pts.) rounded out double-digit scoring for the Pack. Bryce recorded a double-double (11 reb.) for the sixth time in his career, giving NC State a boost on the boards.”according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/3/19/mens-basketball-pack-outlasts-hofstra-84-78.aspx

Trailing by three at the half, the Pack came out firing. Johnson tallied the first points of the half, connecting from long range. The following possession a Dorn steal led to a dunk by Johnson, giving NC State a 44-42 lead. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/3/19/mens-basketball-pack-outlasts-hofstra-84-78.aspx

Hofstra would take the lead two more times in the game before NC State would outlast the Pride, as Johnson led the charge to give the Pack a nine-point advantage at the 7:55 mark for its largest lead of the game. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/3/19/mens-basketball-pack-outlasts-hofstra-84-78.aspx

The Cleveland, Ohio, native scored the Pack's final six points of the contest. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/3/19/mens-basketball-pack-outlasts-hofstra-84-78.aspx

The difference in the game was NC State's effort on the boards in the closing half. Outrebounding the Pride 27-16, NC State gathered 21 points off second-chance opportunities compared to Hofstra's six points. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/3/19/mens-basketball-pack-outlasts-hofstra-84-78.aspx

As for how NC State got to the second round of the National Invitational Tournament they topped Hofstra.

Like NC State, Harvard also topped their opponent to advance to the second round of the National Invitational Tournament as they topped Georgetown.

Securing the first National Invitation Tournament (NIT) victory in program history, Harvard men's basketball topped Georgetown, 71-68, on Wednesday night at McDonough Arena. Harvard improves to 19-11 this season, while the Hoyas fall to 19-14.

Junior Bryce Aiken led the scoring for the Crimson with 19 points, while classmate Robert Baker and first-year Noah Kirkwood totaled 11 apiece. Junior Chris Lewis was also in double figures with 10. The win was the first in the NIT for an Ivy League program since 2002, and Harvard's first postseason tournament victory on a national scale since 2014, when it upset Cincinnati in the NCAA Tournament. “according to https://www.gocrimson.com/sports/mbkb/2018-19/releases/20190320xuhabl

Harvard got off to a fast start and an 11-4 lead, with senior Weisner Perez sparking the visitors with five early points. Nine lead changes followed a Georgetown run, and the Hoyas took a slim 36-35 advantage into the intermission. “according to https://www.gocrimson.com/sports/mbkb/2018-19/releases/20190320xuhabl

The Hoyas held onto a five points-lead midway through the second half, but Harvard responded with a 12-2 run to take a five-point lead of its own, with Baker keying the run with a pair of triples. Nine lead changes made for a back-and forth second half, the last of which occurred when Aiken knocked down a jumper with 1:30 to go to take a 67-65 lead. Aiken proceeded to go 4-for-4 at the foul line to secure the win. “according to https://www.gocrimson.com/sports/mbkb/2018-19/releases/20190320xuhabl

Tip-off is set for 7:30pm from Reynolds Coliseum. The game will be televised on ESPNU.

College BasketballAbigail BaggettMarch 24, 2019Harvard, NC StateComment

BASKETBALL

NC State Faces Harvard In The Second Round Of The NIT In Raleigh