Photo credit: Ethan Hyman (N&O)

N.C. State coach Sidney Lowe

N.C. State forward J.J. Hickson

N.C. State forward Brandon Costner

N.C. State forward Ben McCauley

• Video: Post-game interviews

• Video: Hickson scores 33, here's 29

RALEIGH — For 20 minutes, it looked like Western Carolina would pull an East Carolina and upset N.C. State.

The Catamounts, No. 318 in the RPI, rolled into the RBC Center and hit 3-pointer after 3-pointer and forced N.C. State turnover after turnover to build a nine-point halftime lead.

Then N.C. State woke up, or more to the point, fed J.J. Hickson. The freshman forward pumped in 33 points to carry the Wolfpack to a 74-62 win over WCU and former N.C. State assistant coach Larry Hunter.

Hickson made 13 of 16 free throws and finished 10 of 11 from the floor for a season-high 33 points. He added 13 rebounds as N.C. State outscored WCU 42-21 in the second half.

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"He knows how to score," said Hunter, who was an assistant to Herb Sendek from 2001 to 2005. "He finishes well at the basket. It's unlimited what he can do."

WCU, who lost to Indiana by 48 earlier this season, channeled its inner '86 Celtics in the game's first 20 minutes. Brandon Giles dropped in 16 points in the first half and the Catamounts made their first six 3-pointers and 7 of 10.

They forced 11 first-half turnovers by State, who turned the ball over on its first five possessions of the game and didn't attempt a shot until the game was 3 minutes and 32 seconds old.

State, which has won five straight since losing 75-69 at ECU on Dec. 8, didn't take its first lead of the game until Brandon Costner hit a 3-pointer at the 11:38 mark in the second half.

State scored 19 of the first 23 points of the second half and asserted itself inside with Hickson and McCauley (12 points).

"We put in a great effort in the second half," State coach Sidney Lowe said. "We were able to keep their shooting percentage a lot lower and I think that was a big difference."

It was a one-point game with 3:42 left when WCU point guard Michael Porrini hit two free throws to make it 63-62.

WCU didn't score another point, though. State closed with an 11-0 run, with Courtney Fells scoring four of his nine points.

12/29/07 at 19:01
Today was another exampte as to why there is low attendance at NC State's basketball games, players that are not enthused about playing and it could be that the coach is not teaching, instructing and motivating this team. Coach may still have a pro-ball mind set. Hopefully, they both recover.

12/29/07 at 23:59
I think it is time to accept the fact NSU over acheived last season with an almost fairy tale ending.

I really wish these guys were as good as advertised at the beginning of the year. simply not the case.

all these kinks ought to be worked out. 9-7 in the conference would be great for this team right now. maybe things will change. TBC...

12/30/07 at 09:15
Expectations for the Pack probably were too high going into this year. Everyone in the starting 5 during last year's NCAA tourney got hot at the same time, resulting in the "fairy tail ending". That hasn't happened this year and probably won't.

However, this is team with talent that lately has been finding ways to win. When I look at each team in the ACC besides UNC and Duke, I see no reason the Pack can't finish 3rd, as predicted, and make the NCAA Tourney. 9-7 is not a stretch for this team.

The point guard situation is unsettled, but nowhere near hopeless. The Pack needs to find a way to play 40 minutes of intense defense every game. They have several players who can get hot and carry the team.

Overall, they are ahead of where they were at this time last year and have significant upside potential. How quick they get there will be played out over January and February. Looking forward to it.