The NC State men’s basketball team will take on Appalachian State Sunday in PNC Arena. The Mountaineers are riding a four-game win streak, while the Pack is coming off a 20-point victory over The Citadel.
Three of App State’s (8-4) four wins over the win streak are on the road, despite the team beginning the season at 0-3 away. Meanwhile, the Pack (9-3) is 7-1, and senior guard Markell Johnson is coming off his first career triple-double, the fourth in NC State basketball history and the ACC’s 33rd all-time.
The Mountaineers are primarily led by guard Justin Forrest, who leads the team with 17.8 points per game along with 4.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.5 steals. Despite leading the team in points, Forrest also leads the team in turnovers and fouls. If Johnson can lock down Forrest from getting to the basket, then the Pack should have little trouble outscoring the ‘Neers.
Joining Forrest in high-scoring antics for the Mountaineers are forward Isaac Johnson and guards Adrian Delph and O’Showen Williams. Each of these players averages over nine points per game and shoots no worse than 34% from deep, with Delph most impressively shooting 39% on 4.3 attempts per game.
Williams and Johnson are defensive powerhouses for the ‘Neers, with the players earning 1.9 and 1.8 steals per game, respectively, and leading App State to 60th in the NCAA in total steals. Johnson also secures nine rebounds per game, something the Pack will need to watch for.
In spite of some solid defensive players boasted by the Mountaineers, the Wolfpack should have little issue outscoring Appalachian State. The Pack scores 81.8 points per game as a team, which ranks 21st in the nation, while the Mountaineers just score 70.3 points per game. Outside of Johnson, the Pack has far more scoring options than the ‘Neers, with redshirt senior C.J. Bryce leading the team with 16.1 points per game on 53% shooting.
No player on the Mountaineers shoots as well as graduate forward Pat Andree or junior guard Braxton Beverly, who both shoot 44% on around four attempts per game.
The Pack also fare much better on the defensive end than the Mountaineers are used to. The Pack ranks nine spots ahead of the ‘Neers in the total steals category, while ranking 43rd in total blocks, mainly led by redshirt freshman Manny Bates, who averages 3.2 per game. The Wolfpack also has five players that post at least one steal per game.
The Wolfpack and the Mountaineers are set to square off at 4 p.m. on Dec. 29. The game can be viewed on the ACC Network or listened to on Wolfpack Sports Radio. Live updates can be followed on Twitter @TechSports.
