The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1087622
MARCH 2019 ■ 65 WOLFPACK BASKETBALL "I'm getting these guys to play for NC State," Keatts said. "It takes a while for guys to understand their role. I know that's crazy with four more regular season games." — Matt Carter Sophomore Braxton Beverly Lives The Dream NC State sophomore guard Braxton Beverly did something that every kid has dreamed about. Beverly bombed from way beyond the three-point arc, with the shot looking pure as soon as it left his hand and hitting noth- ing but net at the buzzer to give NC State an improbable 69-67 win over Clemson Jan. 26 at PNC Arena. Beverly's three-pointer was the ninth of the game for the Wolfpack — and just Bev- erly's first —and nine more than Clemson made against the Wolfpack defense. The Tigers went 0 of 7 from beyond the arc, but a closer shot with no defense being played ended up costing them dearly. Clemson fifth-year senior shooting guard Marcquise Reed entered the game as the all-time leading free throw shooter for the Tigers at 86.1 percent. Reed was fouled with 13.8 seconds left and promptly missed two free throws, and then was fouled again with 9.3 seconds remaining, and again missed both free throws. In between those attempts, Clemson elected to quickly foul Beverly, banking on the concept the Tigers would win a battle of free throw shooting in the final 10 seconds. Beverly made his two to cut the CU lead to 67-66, setting up the last second heroics. "With a minute left, we had that timeout, and we told each to just stay solid," Beverly said. "We were still right in the game. We always believed we could win the game." NC State tends to perform best in a free- flowing style rather than set plays, and the final play was no different. Beverly didn't know if he'd even touch the ball in the final seconds, but when red- shirt junior C.J. Bryce got bottled up, he found his teammate. "It was just something that worked out between the players," Beverly said. "As soon as it left my hand, I knew I had made it. The bench mobbed me after the game. "It was great to get that support from your teammates." — Matt Carter Two From Team Face Uncertain Future The Sacha Killeya-Jones era at NC State might have come to an end before it ever truly began. The Kentucky transfer is sitting out this season per NCAA rules, but is not "cur- rently" with the program, according to head coach Kevin Keatts following the Wolf- pack's 73-58 win over Syracuse Feb. 13. NC State announced the next day that fifth-year senior wing Eric Lockett was suspended indefinitely after an alleged in- cident with his girlfriend Feb. 12, resulting in assault charges. The graduate transfer from Florida International was averaging 5.0 points and 3.3 rebounds in 16.9 minutes per game. Killeya-Jones was the former No. 24 re- cruit in the land according to Rivals.com. He came off the bench in 34 contests at Ken- tucky in 2017-18, and averaged 3.3 points and 2.9 rebounds in 13.7 minutes per game. He had eight points, nine rebounds and three blocks in a 65-61 loss versus Kansas on Nov. 14, 2017. He also had eight points and six rebounds in an NCAA Tournament win over Davidson on March 15, 2018. The 6-11, 220-pounder was a McDon- ald's All-American, and he picked NC State over Wake Forest on May 15, 2018, after announcing his transfer. His friendship with NC State sophomore point guard Blake Harris, who is also from Chapel Hill, played a key role in the Wolfpack landing him. Despite the lofty recruiting rankings, Kil- leya-Jones was a bit of a late bloomer. He originally committed to Virginia on Jan. 2, 2015, and was ranked No. 114 in the coun- try by Rivals.com at that point. He then picked Kentucky and was ranked No. 51 before rising to No. 24 in the final listing. — Jacey Zembal Sophomore forward Sacha Killeya-Jones, who transferred to NC State from Kentucky in the spring, left the Wolfpack in early February for undisclosed reasons. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN NC State's Future ACC Schedules 2019-20 Home and away: UNC, Wake Forest, Clemson, Duke, Georgia Tech and Miami Home only: Florida State, Louisville, Notre Dame and Pittsburgh Away only: Boston College, Syracuse, Virginia and Virginia Tech 2020-21 Home and away: UNC, Wake Forest, Boston College, Pittsburgh, Syracuse and Virginia Home only: Duke, Georgia Tech, Miami and Virginia Tech Away only: Clemson, Florida State, Louisville and Notre Dame 2021-22 Home and away: UNC, Wake Forest, Florida State, Louisville, Notre Dame and Virginia Tech Home only: Boston College, Clemson, Syracuse and Virginia Away only: Duke, Georgia Tech, Miami and Pittsburgh