The men’s basketball team downed Catawba in the final preseason game 85-61, which was the second of four games to be played at Reynolds Coliseum this year. The Wolfpack performed well in its final test, according to redshirt junior forward Brandon Costner.
“We came out with a lot of energy, really focused,” Costner said. “Catawba is a really good team. We knew that we had to play good and play smart, and we did that.”
State opened up a 19-6 lead early and never relinquished it in the victory. Costner said the contest showed the players their hard work is paying off, and that the team is ready for a new season.
“I think we are [ready to play]. We are playing really well right now,” Costner said.
Last year, State struggled rebounding, ranking either dead last or near the bottom of the ACC in every single related category. In the first half, the Pack continued to have problems off the boards, allowing seven offensive rebounds to a team significantly shorter than them at every position.
“There was just some miscommunication in the first half and a couple of defensive lapses, but we really focused on it and tried to shut it down [in the second half],” Costner said.
After the last exhibition game, the team is looking forward to the season opener. The opener is on the road against the New Orleans Privateers, making the Pack one of the few major conference teams to travel for the first game.
“Yeah, I mind,” coach Sidney Lowe said when asked if he cared that State opens so far from home. “But that is what it is.”
The New Orleans game is significant for several reasons. Last season, the Privateers handed State its first loss of the season, dropping the Pack to 1-1 after just two games. Also, assistant coach Monte Towe was the head coach for New Orleans for five seasons before joining the Wolfpack’s staff. Redshirt junior Farnold Degand said he is looking forward to the game.
“I like going on the road, taking other people’s territory, and giving it back when we are done with it,” Degand said.
During the game, Degand showed that much of his playing ability has returned after the knee injury that knocked him out much of last season. He led the team in points with 15 in only 22 minutes of action. He also recorded four steals.
“I felt really good today when I was pushing the ball, when I was dribbling. I felt a little bit more under control. When I did the little stop-and-go hesitation and got the lay-up, that’s when I felt like I was coming back into my own and starting to do the things I used to do,” Degand said.
Along with Degand, four other Pack players ended up in double figures. Lowe said he was pleased with the effort as a team.
“I thought our defense again was good,” he said. “It enabled us to get some runs. Offensively, we moved the ball around really well, and had a couple guys make some shots.”
