Sophomore guard Tyler Lewis dominated N.C. State’s intrasquad scrimmage Friday night at PNC Arena.
Lewis racked up 16 points, five assists and three rebounds in a commanding performance as the white team edged past red team, 39-38. The 20-minute scrimmage took place at the end of Primetime with the Pack, the men’s basketball team’s annual pre-season event.
“It’s a fun night for our players,” head coach Mark Gottfried said. “We’re actually going to get back at it early tomorrow [Saturday] morning, but for the players it was a good night.”
Sophomore forward T.J. Warren led the red team with 13 points, while freshman point guard Anthony Barber contributed eight points in a losing effort.
Much of the emphasis coming into the game was on Warren, a Collegeinsider.com pre-season all-American. But Lewis stole the show, dominating his matchup with Barber and controlling the pace throughout.
Lewis got into the lane at will against Barber, forcing the freshman to commit seven fouls. Lewis got free by using screens from senior center Jordan Vandenberg, causing Barber to become visibly frustrated. Players were not ejected from the game for committing more than four fouls.
Lewis said the intensity between the two is nothing new, but it helps both players get better.
“It’s nothing personal [with Barber], it’s just we’re out here and we’re both trying to win,” Lewis said. “Every day in practice, we’re trying to push each other. Just knowing that we’re able to push each other and still be friends off the court is a good thing.”
Vandenberg was the biggest beneficiary of Lewis’ playmaking skills, ending the scrimmage with 12 points and seven rebounds. Vandenberg, who lost 20 pounds in the offseason, ran the floor well and dominated the paint all night, helping the white team outscore the red team 28-18 in the paint.
“I like the fact that Jordan has put himself in position to have a good year,” Gottfried said. “He’s in the best shape of his life, he’s got good stamina and conditioning and it shows. He can affect the game because he’s not getting tired.”
“I think our guys are learning how to utilize his [Vandenberg’s] size and length. Jordan has good hands and he’s in good shape so he can get down there and be involved in the play where last year he had a hard time doing that.”
Warren was another standout on Friday night, showing an impressive array of offensive moves and working hard on defense.
“T.J. is in great physical shape and because of that, I think he’s going to have a great year,” Gottfried said. “He’s got a knack, an uncanny ability to make shots, and now he’s in such great shape that he can get up and down the floor so much more.”
Warren, who was lackadaisical at times on defense last season, looked much quicker and more physical on the defensive end. The sophomore used his much-improved conditioning and physique to notch a game-leading three steals and two blocks.
Despite coming out on the losing end in his matchup against Lewis, Barber was a solid performer for the red team. Barber, coming off a concussion suffered on Oct. 1, played physical defense and steadied the red team’s offense, finishing the night without a turnover.
Aside from Barber, freshmen forwards Lennard Freeman and Kyle Washington impressed the most out of State’s freshmen. Freeman was a physical presence on the boards, leading the Red team with six rebounds.
Washington showcased his incredible athleticism on an authoritative block early in the game. Junior guard Desmond Lee drove along the baseline and rose up for a two-handed dunk, but Washington ripped the ball away from Lee in midair. Washington finished with four points, seven rebounds and two blocks.
Lee, a transfer from New Mexico Junior College, played well in his first appearance in front of the Wolfpack faithful. The junior buried a deep three-pointer to close the gap late but had a game winning three-pointer barely rim out in the closing seconds. Lee ended the night with nine points.
