In a game where the outcome was never in doubt, the NC State men’s basketball team dominated its opponent for the second straight game as redshirt senior guard Torin Dorn recorded a double-double with team-high 22 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Pack over Maryland Eastern Shore 95-49 Saturday afternoon at PNC Arena.
The Wolfpack improved to 2-0 on the season as the team recorded a 50-point half for the second time in as many games while Maryland Eastern Shore dropped to 0-2.
“I’m really excited about the way we played,” Keatts said. “I thought that everybody that got in the game did a tremendous job.”
Sophomore point guard Braxton Beverly made his debut after coming off a preseason hand injury which caused him to sit out the season opener against Mount St. Mary’s.
“It felt great once I got going,” Beverly said. “In the first few minutes my legs weren’t quite under me yet, but that’s how it is for anybody especially in a place like this.”
Beverly went 4 of 10 from 3-point range in his first game back with the Wolfpack. The point guard was listed as a “coach’s decision” before the game, but once he stepped onto the court he played as though he was never injured.
“[Beverly] gives us another dimension,” Keatts said. “He can make shots, he knows how to play, he plays hard, he’s a very special player because he gives us a veteran who’s played in this uniform who knows what I’m looking for.”
The return of Beverly allowed Keatts to run a two-squad, five-in, five-out system for parts of the game, with the five starters of Dorn, junior Markell Johnson, graduate Wyatt Walker, redshirt sophomore Devon Daniels and redshirt junior C.J. Bryce playing together and the bench team of Beverly, redshirt sophomore DJ Funderburk, sophomore Blake Harris, freshman Jericole Hellems and graduate Eric Lockett seeing time on the court with each other.
“I do like the balance that we had in both groups,” Keatts said. “I think we got guys who can score, who can rebound, we got guys who understand their roles in both groups, so it was pretty good for us today.”
The Pack controlled the game from the start, jumping out to a staggering 51-15 lead going into halftime and never looking back. The Hawks were unable to reach double digits until just over three minutes remained in the first half due to a relentless defense that forced 15 turnovers and allowed just 17-of-54 shooting from the Hawks on the night.
NC State cruised through the second half, and though not as dominant as the first 20 minutes, it still outscored the Hawks by 10 points over the final half. The Wolfpack held a 47-point lead with just over eight minutes left in the second half and rolled to a 46-point victory. The Pack couldn’t quite break 100 points again, but the performance was nothing short of a blowout.
Aside from Dorn’s stellar performance, NC State saw several other impressive showings. DJ Funderburk continued his perfection from the field, going 5 of 5 with 13 points. In the season opener, Funderburk went 4 of 4 from the field.
“I’d like to see us get out on the fast break a lot more, get up and pressure them a lot more,” said Funderburk. “We are letting them dribble too much and get comfortable on the offense.”
Johnson had another Markell Johnson-esque performance, scoring just four points on four shot attempts but recording a team-high seven assists.
“I think everybody played great today,” Hellems said. “We all know that everyone on the team can score, so I think coach Keatts has told us everyday to focus on the defensive end and the offense will take care of itself.”
The Wolfpack continues its non-conference slate as it takes on UNC-Asheville Tuesday at PNC Arena at 7 p.m.
