Post game thoughts from Javi Gonzalez

Throughout much of the night Sunday, it was completely clear who was in control of the RBC Center basketball court. Unfortunately for N.C. State, that person was wearing Maryland red.

Greivis Vasquez, Maryland’s 6’6″ point guard from Venezuela, had a field day with the Wolfpack, finishing the game with 33 total points on 13 of 23 shooting. He also added five assists to help Maryland defeat the Pack and move to .500 in the ACC at 7-7.

Point guard Javi Gonzalez said Vasquez was the key for the Terrapins throughout the game.

“He just controlled the whole game,” Gonzalez said. “That was it. We let him do whatever he wanted out there and he just controlled the whole game. That was it.”

State had several opportunities throughout the game to take the lead on the Terps, who closed the all-time series between the two teams to one game at 72-71.

The Pack took its first lead with 9:15 left in the second half when forward Tracy Smith hit a layup to put State up one at 50-49. The lead was short lived however, as Maryland, led by Vasquez, regained control of the action, took back the lead and pulled away late.

Senior forward Ben McCauley, who played well in the second half to finish with 10 points and six rebounds, said the team did not perform up to its ability.

“It definitely sets up back a little bit,” McCauley said of the loss. “You can’t lose games at home, but I’m going to do my best to rally the guys. It’s my last two regular season games of my career coming up. I’m not going down without a fight.”

Head coach Sidney Lowe echoed McCauley’s sentiments and said he was both disappointed and frustrated with Sunday’s loss.

“That was a tough one for us, for me,” Lowe said. “It’s been a few games since I’ve come into the locker room and just felt that we didn’t play as well as we could have.”

Despite the frustration, Lowe credited Maryland’s solid play. The Terps finished the night shooting 48 percent from the floor and nearly 48 percent from the three-point range, hitting 10 from behind the arc.

“They played a little smarter than we did,” Lowe said. “I though we were a little tentative, they were a little more aggressive. They’re not big but they are very physical, and they are determined and they showed it.”

With less than 10 seconds remaining on the clock and Maryland up by eight, Vasquez decided to put up an uncontested three pointer as time expired to give him his 33 point total.

Gonzalez said he didn’t appreciate Vasquez taking the shot with the game already wrapped up.

“It’s disrespectful,” Gonzalez said. “I wasn’t going to go over there and punch him in the face. That’s what we would have done in Puerto Rico but I mean I can’t do that out here so it’s whatever.”

Lowe said he likes players like Vasquez even though he may not have cared for the last-second shot.

“You love him or you hate him, but he’s cocky,” Lowe said. “He’s got a lot of confidence and you know what, I just like players like that.”

Moving forward, the Pack will host Boston College this Wednesday in Raleigh and look to move its way up the ACC ladder heading into conference tournament play, which begins March 12 in Atlanta.

Boston College comes to Raleigh off a win over Florida State Feb. 24 at 8-6 in conference play and has an exciting point guard of its own in Tyrese Rice. The 6’1″ guard averages more than 17 points per game for the Eagles and will be another stiff test for the Wolfpack defense.

Lowe said the team needs to finish well heading into conference tournament action.

 ”The guys that are leaving this program need to lead us,” he said. “This is it for them.”