Wolfpack junior Markell Johnson had himself a game Sunday night in Raleigh, lighting up PNC Arena for 25 points on 46 percent shooting against Wake Forest. Johnson’s play in the 94-74 victory helped NC State avenge a loss to Wake Forest earlier this year, a game that Johnson sat out due to injury.
Johnson wasted no time in getting his night started, as a spin move followed by a quick layup gave the Pack a 4-0 lead in the first two minutes of the game. Johnson stayed quiet scoring-wise until the 10-minute mark in the first half, but after a 3-pointer that put the Pack up 18-13, he got hot from beyond the arc.
“During the first game, my teammates never really got back into the game until the end,” Johnson said. “So today, I just wanted to step up for my teammates and give them that presence they didn’t have six weeks ago.”
Over a two-minute span, the point guard from Cleveland knocked down three 3-pointers. This could not have come at a more opportune time for the Wolfpack, as Wake Forest had narrowed the Pack’s lead down to one with nine minutes to play in the first half. NC State continued to rely on Johnson down the stretch to close out the half. He finished the first half with 19 points, shooting an absurd 5 for 6 from 3-point land.
The Wolfpack can mostly thank Johnson for its first-half lead over the Demon Deacons, as its next leading scorer was redshirt junior C.J. Bryce, who had 4 points at the break. The Pack took its 41-32 lead at the half and continued to build the lead they had established.
With a free throw and another 3-pointer, Johnson also continued to build upon his big game. The three-year veteran dictated game flow at an efficient level, adding two more assists in the second half and bringing his game total to three. While not scoring at the pace he had in the first half, Johnson still trickled in six points for the Pack in the second half, moving his total to 25.
It was poetic for Johnson to have such a high-scoring performance, as Wolfpack legend T.J. Warren had his jersey honored before tonight’s game. Warren is remembered for his scoring prowess against opponents, and Johnson found it fitting to have a high-scoring game on Warren’s night.
“I’m just glad we got the win on T.J.’s day,” Johnson said. “T.J. was a great player here.”
Johnson has been known to take over games this season, acting as the best floor general at head coach Kevin Keatts’s disposal. Keatts had nothing but praise for his point guard after the game.
“He was locked in,” Keatts said. “Give Wake Forest credit for their win at Wake Forest. I’m not going to take away from it because Markell wasn’t there. Injuries are part of the game, but tonight, I thought Markell was special, and he was obviously the difference in the game.”
Johnson’s impact on the Wolfpack’s performances cannot be understated. When the point guard is playing well, the rest of the team follows. The Pack is 7-2 this season when Johnson scores 15 points or more. He simply has an ability to take over games and determine their outcomes; just look at the seven-point loss in Winston-Salem compared to the 20-point win in Raleigh. Johnson is a difference maker. As this game showed, the Pack turns into a much better team when Johnson is playing well. Heading into the last stretch of the season, the Wolfpack will look to Johnson to continue this type of play to end the regular season and will rely on it come March.
