The N.C. State men’s basketball team opened the 2013-14 season in style on Friday night, shooting 61.3 percent from the field to defeat visiting Appalachian State 98-77 at PNC Arena.
Sophomore forward T.J. Warren led the Wolfpack with 27 points. Warren was one of four Wolfpack players in double figures on the night, a group that included junior swingman Desmond Lee. Lee added 24 points, sophomore guard Tyler Lewis had 15, and freshman guard Anthony “Cat” Barber scored 13.
Warren was also the Pack’s top rebounder with eight caroms on the night.
The Wolfpack used a 10-4 run to turn a 7-7 tie into a six-point lead with less than 11 minutes to play in the first half, punctuated by a reverse layup by Warren.
An injury scare at the 7:20 mark in the first half briefly quieted the crowd.
Barber crumpled to the floor after being fouled hard on a fast break by senior forward Tevin Baskin. The Newport News, Va. native stayed down on the court for a few minutes, but was able to return to the N.C. State bench under his own power. Baskin, who led App with 24 points, was booed for the rest of the game by the PNC crowd.
Baskin was charged with an intentional foul and Lewis made the ensuing free throws, giving N.C. State a 27-19 lead. The Wolfpack used the charity stripe to great effect throughout the game, knocking down 15-22 foul shots, including 11-16 by halftime to take a 43-38 lead at the break.
The Mountaineers kept the game close with hot shooting, making 15-of-27 from the field and 4-for-7 from three-point range.
Lewis fell to the floor on the Wolfpack’s first possession after halftime while fighting for an offensive rebound. He walked off the court holding his right arm, but was able to return.
The Pack quickly doubled its halftime lead just two and a half minutes into the second half, with a put back by Barber giving it a double-digit advantage for the first time in the game, forcing App to call a timeout.
After the timeout, N.C. State stretched the lead to 64-44 including a thunderous dunk by Lee. That lead grew to 72-46 on consecutive layups by Warren, the first coming off a filthy behind-the-back assist from Lewis on a fast break.
The Mountaineers reached no closer than 15 the rest of the way as the Pack eased its way to the finish.
