Playing with a heavy heart three days after his paternal grandfather passed away, Brandon Costner was held without a point for the first time since State’s ACC Tournament loss to Miami last season and eighth time in 96 career games.
Over the past three seasons, State is 1-4 when Costner fails to score. He’s still State’s leading scorer at 14.3 points per game after the 72-67 win over Virginia.
“I hope the percentages go in our favor,” State coach Sidney Lowe said. “If he didn’t score this game, maybe he’ll score big in the next game. The good thing about that is we were able to win.”
Costner, who was unavailable for comment afterward, was 0-for-2 from the field — both three-point attempts — when he fell and hurt his right elbow early in the second half, although he returned to the game. Costner missed both shots he took after that, including a dunk attempt.
Late in the first half, he was visibly frustrated when Farnold Degand failed to get him the ball when he was open in the post. Degand’s late pass was picked off by the Cavaliers.
“The nice thing about it is he didn’t try to force it,” Lowe said. “It wasn’t going for him, his elbow was bothering him, his hand was bothering him, and it wasn’t going, but he didn’t force it.”
Lowe said Costner’s elbow will be re-evaluated on Sunday.
“We’ll see,” Lowe said. “I think tomorrow’s really going to be the story on how he feels afterward.”
Costner will attend the funeral Friday, a State spokesman said, after State’s game at Wake Forest on Thursday.
Luke has worked for The N&O since 2000. He covered the Carolina Hurricanes and the NHL before becoming a sports columnist in August 2008. A native of Evanston, Ill., he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. He can be reached at 829-8947 or 
