The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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54 ■ THE WOLFPACKER MEN'S BASKETBALL Freeman drove strong to the basket throughout the contest to lead the way with 24 points, and he was tasked with trying to slow down Arizona star junior guard Al- lonzo Trier, which he did for the first half. Trier still scored 27, but he needed 20 field goal attempts and 11 free throw attempts to grind his way to that total. Worst loss: This one could go in a variety of ways with deficit (losing by 30 to Notre Dame) or importance — falling to Boston College in the ACC Tournament or to Seton Hall in the NCAA Tournament. In terms of just not playing well and hav- ing that nagging feeling of having let one slip away, the 64-60 loss to Northern Iowa the day following the win over Arizona tops the list. That loss stung for a while. NC State shot 33.8 percent from the field, tried 30 three-pointers (making eight) and had just seven assists compared to 14 turnovers. "It wasn't a great game for us," Keatts told The Raleigh News & Observer after the game. "I think we'll learn from that. I can see our guys maturing from that part of it." It also didn't help that Northern Iowa went on to finish 16-16 overall and 7-11 in the Missouri Valley Conference. Most important comeback victory: No team wanted to lose to Pittsburgh this season, and NC State was staring down the barrel of such a scenario Jan. 24. NC State raced out to a 17-6 lead and seemed on its way to an easy road victory. Instead, Pittsburgh shot lights out for the rest of the first half and got career-high 22 points from junior college transfer Jared Wilson-Frame for the game. The Panthers switched to a zone and it provided imme- diate dividends. Pittsburgh led 43-28 with 2:18 left in the first half and it appeared bleak. NCSU was still down 66-57 with 5:54 left in the game. However, Pitt went cold from the field and it didn't take long for the Wolfpack to climb back in the game, cutting the lead to 66-65 with 3:52 left. NC State went on to win 72-68, and Pitts- burgh ended up going 0-19 against ACC opponents. "We never quit on anything until the clock goes zero," NCSU redshirt junior forward Torin Dorn told the Associated Press after the game. "If there is time on the clock, we always think we can win. We play fast enough that we can hit four threes in a row and cut a 12-point lead and tie the game up really fast." Most complete 40 minutes: Something was definitely in the air when Florida State played at NC State. The Wolf- pack jumped the Seminoles early and never eased up, taking a 48-29 lead at halftime. It was a thorough 40-minute perfor- mance in crushing FSU 92-72 Feb. 25. The Seminoles went on to reach the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, adding more context to just how good the Wolf- pack played that day. "I thought our guys played a really good game from start to finish," Keatts said fol- lowing the game. Best individual performance: It would be easy to pick out Freeman's performance against North Carolina, but he was downright unconscious from the field in keeping NC State within striking distance in the 94-83 loss to Seton Hall in the NCAA Tournament March 15. He scored 36 points in 40 minutes, shot 6 of 8 on three-pointers, and added seven rebounds and three assists. Plus, he had to keep up on the defensive end against the Pirates cadre of perimeter weapons. Freeman ended his one-year NC State career in spectacular fashion. "Once they got up down the stretch, where we were playing as hard as we can, trying to sell out with everything, every sin- gle defensive play," Freeman told The Ra- leigh News & Observer following the loss. "They took care of the ball enough to hold us off. It just sucks, especially when you're a senior and my last college game ever." Top supporting actor role: NC State freshman combo guard Braxton Beverly came off the bench for 20 points in 27 minutes to help Freeman take out Ari- zona in the stunning upset. Beverly entered the game having gone 1 of 9 from the field for two points in his first two games after being cleared by the NCAA. The former Ohio State student an- nounced in a big way he'd be a factor during his freshman year by outplaying Arizona se- nior point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright. "I go into every game thinking the same thing — do what I can to help us come out with a win," Beverly told the Associated Press after the game. Best dunk: Johnson's slam over Missouri-Kansas City junior center Mo Ahmed Dec. 9 was named the No. 6 play in SportsCenter's top 10 list that evening. Johnson took the pass from Beverly and made a beeline to the rim down the left side of the court at historic Reynolds Coliseum. He never hesitated and Ahmed wasn't close to being in position to slow him down. NC State also rolled to an 88-69 victory. "I just saw the lane and I told myself no matter who is there, I was going to jump and try to dunk it," Johnson said after the game. "I knew who he was, I saw him. I still went up and poster." Best individual defensive performance: Freeman and the Wolfpack guards did a stellar job in the first meeting against Boston College star junior guard Jerome Robinson. The Garner, N.C., native had a miserable homecoming, going 4 of 20 from the field for eight points in an 82-66 Wolfpack victory Feb. 20. Robinson hurt his wrist in the first half and was held to single digits for the only time in ACC action. He finished the season averaging 20.7 points per game. "When you look at Robinson and [Ky] Bowman, those guys are elite guards," Ke- Fifth-year senior shooting guard Allerik Freeman capped his one year at NC State in spectacular fashion, compiling 36 points, seven rebounds and three assists in the Wolfpack's 94-83 loss to Seton Hall in the NCAA Tournament. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN