Men’s basketball takes on St. Francis in season’s first Reynolds Coliseum game

Anderson Brewer, Assistant Social Media Editor • November 14, 2019

Senior guard Markell Johnson dribbles against Mount Olive guard Cameron Robinson on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019 at PNC Arena. Johnson scored a game-high 26 points in addition to nine assists and six steals. The Wolfpack won 113-73.

After a disappointing start to the season with the loss to Georgia Tech, the NC State basketball team has responded well to the adversity it has faced in the young season by rattling off two wins in a row.

Redshirt junior forward DJ Funderburk returned to action Wednesday against Florida International and senior Markell Johnson has returned from injury so NC State is now back at full force and ready to show its potential as a team.

While the opponents it will be facing will not pose a significant threat until the Pack takes on Memphis in a couple weeks, NC State has a good opportunity to showcase what it can do in front of what should be a great crowd in Reynolds Coliseum on Saturday.

The team that the Pack will be facing is St. Francis (NY). The Terriers so far are 1-1 on the young season, having just won their last game by one point over Lafayette.

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St. Francis is a team that loves to push the ball up the court, but so far its offense has been mostly lackluster, as the Terriers have only averaged 66 points per game.

What NC State should look for in this game is to let Markell Johnson get going. The senior has clearly struggled in his first two games of the season as he has only put up 10 total points.

Johnson has a great opportunity to finally find his groove in front of the Wolfpack faithful in Reynolds. If NC State wants to take a step forward this season, Johnson will have to play better.

In the Wolfpack’s first three games, redshirt senior guard C.J. Bryce, redshirt junior guard Devon Daniels, redshirt junior guard Braxton Beverly, graduate forward Pat Andree and redshirt freshman forward Manny Bates have accounted for 78% of the Pack’s points.

If Johnson returns to even last year’s form, it will take NC State to another level as a team. While the next few games do not look to be as challenging as others, these games should help the team to get more comfortable and help Johnson to find his shot again.

While no game should be overlooked, NC State simply handling business and getting more comfortable as a team will have fans leaving Reynolds satisfied.

The Pack will take on St. Francis at noon on Saturday in the first of its two games at Reynolds Coliseum this season.