Desperate for a win in front of the home crowd Saturday, the NC State men’s basketball team got it done in an intense, back-and-forth game against the visiting Wake Forest Demon Deacons, prevailing 99-88 at PNC Arena. Today was the most points the team scored in an ACC game since January 22, 1992 in a 99-88 win over UNC.
“Every game we play now is a must win,” junior guard Cat Barber said. “We did it today. We’ll see if we can keep getting wins, but this one was big.”
Barber had a career-high 38 points to lead the Wolfpack (13-12, 3-9 ACC) to victory.
“He’s confident in his three point shot,” head coach Mark Gottfried said. “He’s getting to the rim, making tough shots. In the second half today he was just unbelievable.”
Sophomore forward Caleb Martin had 18 points in a nice bounce back performance after a tough game against Duke last week. Meanwhile, freshman guard Maverick Rowan had 20.
“It’s tough during the middle of the season with me going through a little slump,” Martin said. “Everybody goes through a slump here and there I’m just trying to figure out ways to get through it. My teammates have done a good job of helping me get out of it.”
Senior guard Codi Miller-McIntyre lead the Demon Deacons (10-15, 1-12 ACC) with 24 points, freshman guard Bryant Crawford had 16, and senior forward Devin Thomas had 15 and a whopping 21 rebounds.
The team did not get off to a great start, struggling defensively over the first five minutes and change of the game, as it was not able to contain Wake Forest in transition and gave up a lot of easy finishes down low. Coupled with some poor shot selection by the Pack at the other end as it threw up a lot of wild, rushed shots, the Demon Deacons came out with an early 18-8 lead.
After Wake went up by 10, State woke up, as it outscored the Demon Deacons 22-8 over the next 5:31. Martin played a big role in the run, scoring 13 points, including hitting back-to-back threes for the six-point lead with 7:59 to go in the half.
“I love seeing those go in,” Martin said. “Those are definitely a little confidence booster. That’s when you know you’re feeling it. As a shooter, seeing those go in helps you out a lot.”
After the two big early runs for the two teams, the rest of the first half was pretty evenly played, and the Pack took a 46-44 lead to the locker room.
A three by Barber at the 14:53 mark of a tightly contested opening to the second half seemed to galvanize Wake, sparking a 10-3 run for a 69-64 Demon Deacons lead with 11:37 remaining.
With the Pack trailing by five at the 10:39 mark, Martin drained another huge three to cut the deficit to two, sparking a 9-2 run that gave the Pack a 75-73 lead with 8:23 remaining. The run was finished off by back to back nice cuts to the inside to draw fouls by Barber, and he made all four free throws.
“I can get to the rack so well and break the defender down,” Barber said. “There’s times where I’m going to the rim and I’m like, either you’re going to let me go or you’re going to foul me and I’m going to go to the line and make the shot.”
With State leading by two inside the three-minute mark, back to back possessions finished off with a nice jumper by Martin and another gorgeous layup by Barber pushed the lead to six. With State’s lead again down to four with 1:29 to go, Barber drew yet another foul and sank both free throws to put the Pack up 91-85 with under a minute and half left.
Wake hung tough in the last minute, but the Pack was able to make its free throws and close out the victory.
It will be a quick turnaround for the weary for the Pack, as it hits the road Monday to take on the No. 7 Virginia Cavaliers in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Junior guard Anthony "Cat" Barber runs around freshman forward John Collins from Wake Forest to attempt to score during the basketball game on Saturday, Feb 13, 2016. Barber scored 38 out of NC State's 99 points, beating the Wake Forest's 88.
