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Davidson College
at NC State
Late Free Throws Lift NC State Over Davidson, 66-65
12/21/2007 8:40:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Marc Gignac
Box Score
Postgame Interview (Windows Media Player)
RALEIGH, N.C. – Gavin Grant hit a pair of free throws with 3.9 seconds left, and Stephen Curry's 40-footer as the buzzer sounded rimmed out as NC State squeaked out a 66-65 victory over Davidson at the RBC Center Friday night.
On the Wildcats' previous trip down the floor, Curry nailed a 3-pointer from the wing with 42 seconds left to give Davidson (4-6) a 65-64 lead, its first since a 13-11 advantage 5:08 into the contest.
Grant's leaner in the lane on NC State's trip down the floor didn't go down, but the Wildcats could not dig out the rebound, giving the Wolfpack the ball with 19 seconds left. Ben McCauley tried a jump hook that rimmed out, but Grant got the loose-ball rebound and was fouled on a putback attempt to set up the game-winning free throws.
Trailing 64-60 after a Brandon Costner free throw following the last media timeout, Jason Richards fed Thomas Sander for a fast-break layup with 2:05 to play. Davidson got a defensive stop, but Curry missed a 17-foot jump shot, and NC State got the rebound. The Wildcats forced a turnover after a Wolfpack timeout to set up Curry's 3-pointer that gave Davidson the lead.
The sophomore guard finished with a game-high 29 points after shooting 10-for-24 from the field and 7-for-15 from long distance. Richards tallied 14 points and six assists.
NC State's big men all reached double figures and accounted for 49 of the Wolfpack's points. Grant had 15, Costner had 13, McCauley netted 11 off the bench and J.J. Hickson added 10. The foursome combined to shoot 16-for-34 from the field and had 24 rebounds. They also held the Wildcats to four offensive rebounds for the game and none in the first half.
After the NC State bigs scored 21 of the Wolfpack's 30 points while shooting 7-for-13 from the floor in the first half, Davidson opted to mix up its usual man-to-man defense with a 3-2 zone in the second period, which allowed the 'Cats to stay within striking distance.
The Wolfpack had two leads of eight points early in the frame but could not add to the cushion. Bryant Barr's nine second-half points off the bench also kept the Wildcats close.
Trailing 13-11 in the first half, NC State stepped up the defense and did not allow a field goal for 6:24 while using an 11-2 run to open a 22-15 advantage midway through the first half.
The Wildcats returned the favor and held the Wolfpack without a field goal for the final 8:44 of the frame and trailed 30-26 at the break.
The Wildcats have an eight-day break before returning to the hard wood Jan. 3, when they host SoCon opponent Georgia Southern at 7 p.m. in John M. Belk Arena.
Game Notes: Curry reached the 20-point plateau for the 27th time in his career, which includes seven games this season… The Wolfpack was the third ACC team Davidson has played this season… NC State is 68-8 in non-conference games in the RBC Center.
