N.C. State's Scott Wood drills a 3-pointer as Wake Forest's Chase Fischer, left, tries to defend during the first half. ETHAN HYMAN - ehyman@newsobserver.com
Updated 7:30 p.m.
RALEIGH — N.C. State will always have Wake Forest.
The ACC will regularly take a game against North Carolina away from the Wolfpack when the league expands to 14 teams but State and Wake will continue to play twice a season.
Since 2006, that has been a good thing for State. The Pack beat the Demon Deacons 87-76 on Saturday for the fifth straight time and the ninth time in the past 12 games.
Scott Wood's 23 points lifted the Pack in a closer call than the earlier meeting this season, a 76-40 wipeout in Winston-Salem, and the two lopsided State wins from last season (by 25 and 21 points).
C.J. Leslie and C.J. Williams each added 18 points for the Wolfpack, who improved to 17-7 and 6-3 in the ACC, and Lorenzo Brown finished with 15 points and eight assists as State turned in its best performance in two weeks.
"We're getting there," Wood said. "We're working hard and trying to get better."
Wake (11-12) fell to 2-7 in the ACC and lost its fourth straight game, despite getting double-figure scoring from five players.
Guard C.J. Harris led the Deacs with 21 points and several times it looked like State would pull away but the Deacs played with a resiliency it hadn't in the previous three meetings with the Wolfpack.
A strong shooting effort (29 of 58) helped Wake stay in the game, especially from 3-point range (10 of 17).
"They made shots, we made shots, they made more shots," said second-year Wake coach Jeff Bzdelik, who fell to 1-12 in ACC road games.
Nobody shot better from outside than Wood. He made six 3-pointers, including one on a key four-point play at 10:04 in the second half.
Wake had tied the game at 50, about 3 minutes earlier, but Wood's dagger gave State a 63-52 advantage.
It was the fourth time in Wood's career he hit at least six 3s in a game but it was the first of this season and his first at the RBC Center. Wood has made at least five 3s in four home games this season, but two were at Reynolds Coliseum.
Wood didn't need to know his shooting history to know his shooting preference.
"I don't like playing here, I'd rather play on the road," Wood said. "Anytime you have fans talking trash, it raises your game."
The Pack actually had a seven-point possession, due to an intentional foul on Wake reserve Daniel Green, in the first half in building a 42-33 at the break.
Leslie was fouled by Green on a dunk, he made the one free throw for the foul on the shot and the second free throw for the flagrant foul. Off the inbounds play, Williams hit a 3-pointer.
The Deacs used a 14-4 run, with two 3-pointers by Chase Fischer, to take a 29-22 lead at 6:28 in the first half.
Then Wood ignited a 20-4 run to close the half with three straight 3s.
"It's nice to seem him get in that groove where everybody in the gym thinks that every shot he takes is going in," State coach Mark Gottfried said. "That's where he was today."
Comments
Expectations
Sun, 02/05/2012 - 04:39 — shharrisThere was a lot of pressure to deliver a W over a team everyone expected State to beat. The local sports writer had State a 21 point favorite. I think that's ridiculous. The team won and anyone watching the game was probably surprised the score was as close as it was.
I hate to be so negative, but CJL is nowhere near ready to go pro, except in his own mind. He looked like the worst defensive player on the team the last two games. He has no intensity on either side of the ball. This is a guy that has lived on talent his whole life, and seems to have no concept of hard work. His offense has been critical in our last two wins, but his poor defense kept the other teams in the game.
I love the progress. I love the attitude. But, unless we beat all the teams below us on the ladder and win two of three against UNC, Duke, and FSU, State will have to use the ACC tournament to get an invite to the NCAA tournament. We have not beaten a single team ranked in the top 20. Beating teams from lesser conferences that got automatic bids last year feels good, but it don't get you to the dance. steve'73
Frustrations
Mon, 02/06/2012 - 12:48 — JPDOhioRegarding Leslie, I think your comment reflects the same frustration that I feel when I watch him play. When I look at every other starter plus DeShawn Painter, I feel that Gottfried is consistently getting about 90% of what they are capable of. With CJL, it is more like 60% (and that may be generous). So Gottfried is not getting everything out of him that he is capable of, but he is getting all the Leslie is willing to give.
As far as CJL going pro, he will because that is the expectation and the plan that he has for himself. I think he would have been gone after last year if not for the NBA lockout. He will probably get his shot because of his athleticism, but he won't succeed. Take a look at what JJ Hickson has accomplished in the NBA and you'll get a preview of the best Leslie can be in the NBA.
As far as the NCAA tournament is concerned, the scenario you present would definitely get the Pack off the bubble and in the tourney. I am not sure I would say that losing all three of the "quality" games would eliminate them from contention as long as they won all 4 of the other games. But they would be squarely on the bubble with probably a hundred other teams with similar resumes. This is going to be a very difficult year for the committee to choose from a large population of bubble teams.
Finally, at the risk of sounding like I am settling (which I am not), I have to say that it is great to be talking about having a shot at the tourney given the uncertainty before the season started. Last year at this time, State was in a tailspin and, if Alex Johnson had been around, he would be getting consideration for a starting role. The progress has been remarkable. The Pack has a ways to go and will need DeThaey, Harris and next year's recruits to step up and contibute, but you can actually envision it happening.
So, while I am hopeful that the Pack can do what is needed to be done to get into the NCAA tournament, if they were to finish the season with 20+ wins and have to settle for the NIT, I can't be too disappointed about it. But next year's expectation will certainly be higher than that.
Sometimes being negative
Sun, 02/05/2012 - 09:27 — Shoreman67is simply being objective. Your assessment of CJL going pro may be correct. As far as his intensity issues, we know that when he plays hard he can be a real force but he seldom maintains it for a full game; I believe this was the rap on him when he was recruited. Yes, he does play a little loose on defense---blocking shots and offensive rebounding being his forte. I'd be interested in looking at stats comparing the pts. he scores against the opponent he is guarding; that might reflect somewhat on his "net worth" so to speak.
Re your last paragraph--- right now we are probably a bubble team for the dance; the scenario you project would, I believe, get us in, but I'm still not convinced that we need to win two of three against the Heels, Duke and FSU. At this point I am just hoping we can beat the teams below us, pick up at least a win against those three teams and make some noise in the ACC tourney; maybe that would be enough.
We have a tough stretch of games to finish up the season. Guess we will see how good, or bad, we really are. Let's get it done Pack!
two things
Sun, 02/05/2012 - 09:39 — SurferCJL, no defense? Perhaps perfect for the NBA...
Don't you still have UVA to play, as well? That win would help also. Speaking of help, NCSU will need some to beat those top three. Not saying it couldn't or won't happen. Just looking at how State has been playing and who they would be up against.
No
Sun, 02/05/2012 - 10:55 — JPDOhioWe're done with UVa. Because they haven't beaten anybody ahead of them, the Pack probably have to win 5 of their last 6 to get off the bubble. Nobody in their right mind is predicting that.
Thanks
Mon, 02/06/2012 - 12:57 — SurferJust looked at the schedule, with the remaining 7 games, 4-3 is possible. But winning one over Dook, UNC or FSU is the tough task. Of course, if Dook would play like they did against the U, that is a certain possibility. Of course Clemson might be a tough out, as well. In other words, 11-5 is not out of the question, but some improved play is gonna have to show up for it to be a reality.
Happy with the win, of course, but
Sat, 02/04/2012 - 16:47 — Shoreman67not happy with giving up 76 pts., including 10-15 three's/67% and an overall FG% of 51%; gotta' do better than that. We were defensing those 3's pretty good for a several games recently; gotta' get'em back to that intensity again MG.
Happy with the offensive performance, State keeping Wake off the foul line and keeping the TO's down. Nice to see LoBrown have a good offensive game.
Like where we are right now in the conference but sure would like to have that GTech game back; that one may come back to haunt us at season's end. Maybe the Terps can knock off the Heels tonight and tighten up the race a little.
Good game
Sat, 02/04/2012 - 16:11 — mad_maxPretty much what I expected. This was a good, entertaining game. Glad to see Wake actually showed up today, unlike a couple weeks ago in WS.
At this point in the season, I'm very pleased with State's record. It's crazy to think about, but at 6-3, State has now matched the most ACC wins ever posted by Lowe in his 5 seasons as coach. If anyone is still claiming not to see the improvement, then they are either blind, stupid, or both.
Keep it up boys...one win at a time. GO PACK!!!
Agreed
Sat, 02/04/2012 - 16:39 — JPDOhioWake came to play and the Pack answered every time Wake made a run. Good win for the Pack. More later.
I tell ya what
Sat, 02/04/2012 - 15:17 — gvillegatrI'm just glad the wife finally brought home the donuts !
Too bad it appears the wuffies were ahead of me in eating the donuts.
48-47