The Pack takes the court at 7 tonight against a second consecutive D-1 newbie, the North Carolina Central Eagles. Lowe’s squad continues to search the corners of the earth for an opponent crappy enough to provide a comfortable win. Sagarin has 1-18 NCCU at 329, 14 slots behind the mighty Blue Hose of Prebyterian College. I will be front-row, center court (but on the upper level), and God and blackberry willing, live blogging this glorious event. Don’t expect updates more frequently than the media time-outs.
Pregame – There is NOBODY here. A guy just flipped off the fan cam. This amused me, as I am very immature. I am not so crass as to bastardize the national anthem, though. That always pisses me off.
7:12 – Pack up 3, halfcourt O still sucks. Central starts a white guy, FWIW.
7:19 – Up to 12-3 Pack. The people love Simon Harris, and I concur. He busts his ass.
7:22 – Central cuts lead to 7. We are playing great D, but still giving up loads of offensive boards.
7:29 – Another offensive board, followed by a 3. Lead down to 16-10.
7:31 – Grant has made 2 really awful passes to the low post. Each overshot Hickson by a good 3 feet.
7:35 – Simon tries for 3. Very bad idea. 18-12, Pack.
7:37 – Oh shit. Fells just collapsed in a heap holding his ankle/foot.
7:41 – Fells hobbled to locker room, with help. Putting no weight on right foot at all. Grant has 2 fouls, so Javi, Trevor, and Simon all playing together. This does not strike me as a lineup built to score. I shudder at the thought of this lineup in CH on Saturday.
7:45 – JJ is 6-6 from stripe. Has half our points.
Halftime – Javi closes the half with 3 points on 2 nice drives to the bucket. 27-18.
7:57 – Apparently Barry Manilow “Music and Passion” is coming to the ESA. I would rather be shot, I think.
8:10 – 2 Costner 3s key big spurt. 35-18, Pack. Eagles had 11 offensive boards in first half. Wow.
8:22 – Trevor keeps on shooting, and the people really want him to score. Their faith is not being rewarded. Pack leads easily if not artfully, 39-22.
8:26 – Central has a player who is 1-13 from the floor and 0-4 from the line.
8:29 – 1-14 now. 40-24, Pack. Can we hold them under 30?
8:31 – Troubling stat – Ben is scoreless.
8:41 – Ben breaks his cherry with old-fashioned 3 point play. Just under 4 to go and Pack up 45-26. Defense!
8:44 – Trevor scores! The people are pleased.
8:47 – Smith gets block and bucket. Central up to 29, damn it.
Your final score – NC State 54, NC Central 29. The defense holds!
