Rob Bradley
Senior Cameron Bennerman and his No. 13 N.C. State lost to rival North Carolina Saturday, 82-69.
In almost no time at all, No. 13 N.C. State (12-2, 1-1) jumped out to an 11-0 lead against host and archrival No. 25 North Carolina (9-2, 1-0) Saturday at the Dean Smith Center.
By game’s end, however, the Tar Heels had emphatically erased memories of that start with an 82-69 victory.
Senior guard Cameron Bennerman said the team did not do a good job of switching to an ACC mindset after easy early season games.
“We’ve had some easy games where we haven’t really had to be in that position,” Bennerman said. “So it’s ACC time, and a lot of games are going to come down to the last four minutes.”
The game started with a three-point basket by senior forward Ilian Evtimov on the first possession of the game, and sophomore forward Cedric Simmons scored the next four points on an inside basket and two free throws. Bennerman’s steal and thundering breakaway dunk was the highlight of the run as the Wolfpack took a 9-0 lead, and junior guard Engin Atsur’s layup completed the opening spurt.
It was not long, though, before State turnovers helped shrink the lead and eventually allow the Heels to take a 27-19 lead.
State kept fighting back, and behind three late first half three-point baskets – two from senior guard Tony Bethel and one by Atsur – the Pack took a 39-36 halftime lead.
Then Simmons committed two quick fouls to start the second half. Simmons sat down with 14:31 left in the game after his fourth foul and did not return until the 6:20 mark of the game.
“It was a tough call,” Simmons said. “I felt like it really hurt our team down the home stretch.”
When the score was 67-65 in Carolina’s favor, State had four opportunities to either tie or take the lead but came away empty each time – missing two open three-point shots, missing the front end of a one-and-one free throw chance and turning the ball over once during the stretch.
A few plays later, Bennerman scored four straight points to tie the game at 69-69 with 3:10 left in the game.
From there, Carolina freshman center Tyler Hansbrough put down a dunk and four free throws – accounting for six of his game-high 20 points – to give his team a 75-69 lead with 1:39 left.
That was the beginning of the end for the Pack as the Heels scored the next seven points, including a crowd-pleasing David Noel dunk, to finish the game on a 13-0 run and complete the turnaround from the Heels’ rough start.
Atsur said execution was the difference in the game.
“We couldn’t execute our offense, and we just couldn’t get stops,” Atsur said. “And they executed really well, and they found some open layups.”
Freshman point guard Bobby Frasor also played a vital role in the Carolina victory with 17 points and four assists. Senior forward David Noel and junior guard Reyshawn Terry joined him in double figures with 14 and 13 points, respectively.
Evtimov, who led State with 15 points, credited the Heels for their aggressiveness and said they did not get enough credit going into the game.
“I’m not surprised at all,” Evtimov said. “I knew they were a very good team from the beginning.”
Bennerman said the team’s defense in the final minutes of the game made the difference.
“We really pride ourselves with our defense. They got some easy layups at the rim,” Bennerman said. “Those last four minutes really stick in my mind. We didn’t do what we’re supposed to do.”
Simmons admitted the game was a chance to make a statement that the team did not take advantage of.
He had a word of optimism, though, about the remainder of the season.
“Yeah, it was, but there’s plenty more opportunities to make a statement,” Simmons said. “We’ve got Boston College coming up. They’re a good team, and they’re at home. So we’ve got a chance to make a statement there also.”