RALEIGH — What N.C. State lacked on offense in the first 4 minutes of Saturday's game with Western Carolina, it made up for in the final 36.
All five starters scored in double-figures to more than make up for a sluggish holiday start in a 82-55 win over the Catamounts.
Senior C.J. Williams led the scoring parade with 21 points and forward Richard Howell added 12 points and 14 rebounds for one of the Pack's most dominant wins of the season.
State missed its first four shots and neither team had a field goal by the first TV timeout but the Pack found its offensive stride, while the Catamounts floundered.
Williams had 15 in the first half and keyed a 17-4 run, that started at the 10-minute mark of the first half, that broke the game open.
A smaller but quicker lineup with Williams, Lorenzo Brown and Alex Johnson turned up the defensive pressure for the Wolfpack, which turned the meat of the first half into a fast-break clinic.
Brown (14 points, eight assists) had the top two highlights of the afternoon — a layup after switching the ball behind his back at 8:59 and an up-and-under layup at 6:54.
While Brown was pushing tempo, Howell was controlling underneath. Howell had 17 points and 17 rebounds in Tuesday's win over Campbell and continued to devour rebounds against the Catamounts.
It wasn't all gumdrops and layuyps for the Pack. Instead of checking out after building a 47-24 halftime lead, it continued to apply pressure on defense. It took Western Carolina until the 7:32 mark to crack double-digits in the second half.
State led 74-33 until Harouna Mutumbo's short jumper gave the Catamounts 11 points in the second half. The Pack had a 27-9 advantage in the second half up to that basket.
Comments
The most impressive stat
Sun, 01/01/2012 - 08:54 — Shoreman67of this game was Calvin going 6 for 7 at the foul line..........heh........heh. I hope they keep hitting foul shots as they have in the last two games. It was nice to see CJW scoring again and Howell has become the "Chairman of the Boards". Nice win State.
Very good
Sat, 12/31/2011 - 20:46 — JPDOhioOnce you get past the first 4-5 minutes, it was all good. CJ Williams got them going and then everyone got into the act. Very solid all around performance. Good at the foul line, 25 assists on 30 buckets, fine defense and great pace. Excellent way to close out the calendar year.
Go Pack!