N.C. State coach Sidney Lowe
Seton Hall coach Bobby Gonzalez
NEWARK, N.J. — N.C. State has yet to play an ACC game but could be the unofficial Big East leader after a hard-fought 79-73 victory tonight over Seton Hall.
It was the Pack's third win this season against a Big East opponent. State topped Villanova in the finals of the Old Spice Classic in November and defeated Cincinnati on Sunday at the RBC Center.
State (8-3) won its fourth straight game and its first true road game. The Pirates are 8-3 and lost their first home game at the new Prudential Center.
The Pack trailed 58-55 with 7 minutes left before a run of six straight points by center J.J. Hickson that began with a dunk follow shot. After a pair of free throws by the freshman, another Hickson putback gave State 61-58 lead with 4:43 to play.
The Pack led 66-60 when Pirates guard Eugene Harvey lost the ball on a drive. But referee Jamie Luckie called Courtney Fells for a pushing foul with 2:40 to play and Harvey hit both free throws. After a State turnover, Brian Laing drilled a 3-pointer with 2:15 left to cut the lead to 66-65.
But sophomore point guard Marques Johnson, playing for the first time this season, hit a free throw. The former Tennessee transfer later scored on a backdoor cut and then hit another foul shot.
The Pirates were able to break down the Pack's defense at times in the second half with penetrating drives. Harvey, a 6-foot sophomore, used his quickness to get to the basket and was a blur in transition.
Fells hit seven of eight shots in the first half, scoring 17 points, and the Wolfpack spurted late for a 35-32 lead at the break. But 3-pointers by Brian Laing and Paul Gause early in the second half helped the Pirates pull ahead 52-46.
But a 3-pointer by Gavin Grant with 9:50 left turned into a five-point possession for the Pack. Grant was fouled on the shot and missed the free throw, but Ben McCauley scored on a follow.
The game had a number of interesting subplots. State's Brandon Costner is from nearby Montclair, starred at Seton Hall Prep and turned down the Pirates to play for the Pack.
Seton Hall guard Larry Davis signed with the Pack but then gained a release when former coach Herb Sendek left for Arizona State in 2006.
Grant and Laing both played at St. Raymond's High in the Bronx.
And, of course, it was State's first game without starting point guard Farnold Degand, who suffered a knee injury Sunday and will miss the rest of the season. Freshman Javi Gonzalez started at point guard and Johnson got his first playing time for the Pack.
State trailed 28-25 with 3 minutes to play in the first half when Fells scored an easy inside basket off a feed from Costner. After a baseline drive by Grant, Fells scored on a short jumper and then a fast-break dunk to end a 10-2 run.
State shot 51.7 percent but had some problems against the Seton Hall fullcourt press and zone defense, finishing the half with 11 turnovers (four by Hickson).
State out-rebounded the Pirates 22-14 in the first half as both teams had six offensive boards.
Costner, a former star at nearby Seton Hall Prep, scored five early points but then struggled offensively. He was 0-for-3 on 3s in going 2-for-7 from the field.
Cincinnati was called for 35 personal fouls and State shot 50 free throws in its 85-77 win. The Pirates, in contrast, were physical on defense but picked up just four personals in the first half.
