Raleigh, NC (Sports Network) - The 25th-ranked NC State Wolfpack continue an
extended homestand to close out the 2012 calendar year, as they welcome the
surging St. Bonaventure Bonnies to PNC Arena for a non-conference matchup on
Saturday.
Mark Gottfried's Wolfpack came into the season with plenty of hype and visions
of an ACC crown. NC State has played well for the most part with wins in eight
of its first 10 games. The losses came to a pair of current top-25 programs in
Oklahoma State and Michigan, but since the setback to the Wolverines in Ann
Arbor, the Wolfpack has strung together four straight wins, including
Tuesday's 88-79 victory over Stanford. NC State will close out the 2012
portion of its schedule with games against Western Michigan and UNC Greensboro
in Raleigh.
Mark Schmidt's Bonnies are a solid 7-3 on the season, and come into this
contest red-hot following back-to-back routs of Cleveland State (87-53) and
the Citadel (97-57). It marks the first time that St. Bonaventure has posted
30-plus point victories in consecutive games since the 1969-70 campaign. The
Bonnies are seeking their best start (8-3) since 2001-02.
This is just the third meeting between these two teams. St. Bonaventure won
the first-ever meeting in the 1970 NCAA Tournament (80-68), en route to the
Final Four. NC State tied things up last season, 67-65 in Rochester.
St. Bonaventure displayed a balanced attack in the lopsided win over the
Bulldogs, as five Bonnies notched double digits, with the team setting season-
highs in scoring, field-goal percentage (.565), assists (26) and steals (13).
Demitrius Conger and Chris Johnson tied for team-high honors with 16 points
apiece. Marquise Simmons and Eric Mosley were right behind with 15 points
each. Youssou Ndoye rounded out the top scorers with 10 points in 15 minutes
of work off the bench.
The offensive numbers have certainly begun to head in the right direction
following the Bonnies' last two outings. Overall, the team is now averaging
74.4 ppg and doing so in on a decent .458 shooting. Johnson and Conger have
been a potent one-two punch in the frontcourt, averaging 14.4 and 14.1 ppg,
respectively. Conger has proved to be versatile, as he not only can fill up
the basket, but also leads the team in both rebounds (7.7 rpg) and assists
(3.3 apg). Mosley has proved to be an asset off the bench with 9.8 ppg.
While St. Bonaventure is just starting to peak offensively, NC State has been
there since day one. The Wolfpack are averaging just under 80 points per game
this year (79.4), while ranking first in the nation in field-goal percentage
(.530). A truly balanced attack features five players in double figures,
including four starters. Richard Howell headlines the group and is one of the
ACC's top low post players, averaging team-highs of 14.4 points and 9.8
rebounds per game, while shooting a ridiculous .675 from the floor. T.J Warren
(13.5 ppg) has done most of his damage coming off the bench and is converting
an even better .682 from the floor. Forward C.J. Leslie is next in line (13.2
ppg, 7.5 rpg) at a mere .580 clip. Point guard Lorenzo Brown is the team
catalyst, with the ability to create for himself (12.9 ppg) and others (5.9
apg), while Scott Wood (10.1 ppg) rounds things out with his 3-point acumen
(.421, 24-of-57).
Brown put on an offensive clinic in the win over Stanford, scoring 18 of his
season-high 24 points in the second half. Howell was once again magnificent
inside, with a double-double consisting of 17 points and 12 rebounds. Wood
matched Howell's scoring output with 17 points of his own, while Leslie tacked
on 16. NC State shot a sterling .561 from the floor in the win and outscored
the Cardinal 19-4 at the free-throw line.
The Sports Network