Quick hits from NC State basketball 79-65 win over Central Connecticut

Quick hits and notes from NC State basketball and its 79-65 win over Central Connecticut State in their first matchup of the Basketball Hall of Fame Showcase at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn.

NC State basketball play of the game

With NC State starting to pull away in a surprisingly close matchup, redshirt sophomore wing Dereon Seabron once again stepped up when his number was called. Seabron helped put the nail in the coffin when he went coast-to-coast for a nice layup.

Seabron snagged a defensive rebound with 2:15 left and pushed the tempo. He crossed up and blew past his defender, Central Connecticut State’s Zach Newkirk, and put up a tough bucket over 6-foot-10 Arian Dehnav while being fouled for what turned out to be a three-point play.

NC State went up 71-58 and never looked back.

NC State basketball highlight of the game

NC State started to find their offensive rhythm after halftime, and the offense looked more crisp throughout the half. At the 9:09 mark the ball movement looked at its best. Junior guard Casey Morsell found freshman guard Terquavion Smith in the corner, and Smith made the extra pass to Seabron, who was flying into the lane.

Seabron would lay it in for another and-1 play, putting the Wolfpack up 57-53.

NC State basketball player of the game

Seabron dominated the Blue Devils (no, not those Blue Devils).

For the third game in a row, Seabron had his best game of the career. He was just one rebound shy of his third straight double-double, but he did manage to set a new career-high in points with 24. It is the third consecutive contest that Seabron has set a career high in scoring.

He is averaging 21 points and 10.3 rebounds per game through the first three matchups.

Seabron was the only consistent shining light on the offensive end for the Wolfpack. After a slow start to the first half where he was 3 of 7 from the field, Seabron hit all five of his shots in the second half and went 5-6 from the free-throw line.

Over the weekend, Seabron was named ACC Player of the Week, and he is picking up where he left off.

First half offensive struggles

The first half was not pretty for NC State basketball.

Smith hit a three-pointer at the 15:29 mark, and the Pack wouldn’t make another field goal until 7:05 after a layup from fifth-year senior guard Thomas Allen.

NC State actually started the contest making 4 of 5 threes while building up a quick 14-7 advantage. However, the Pack missed its final six shots from long range in the half. And NC State shot just 33.3 percent from the field overall to find itself surprisingly down at the half, 33-32.

The Blue Devils had previously allowed opposing teams to shoot 55.7 percent from the field. The Wolfpack shot markedly better in the second half (17 of 30) to finish at 45.0 percent for the game.

Young guns step up

The senior and leader of the squad, forward Jericole Hellems, struggled before he would foul out for the seventh time in his career, going 1 of 5 from the field for four points to go with a pair of rebounds but also three turnovers in 14 minutes. It marked back-to-back four-point performances for Hellems after he had 22 in the season-opener against Bucknell.

With the Pack’s captain gone, it meant the newcomers had to step up their game. It wasn’t a stellar performance, but the freshman trio of Smith, guard Breon Pass and forward Ernest Ross would combine for 18 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists.

Smith had a nice no-look laser of a pass to Seabron for an easy bucket inside. Pass shot well off the bench, making 3 of 5 shots, including a vital three to put the Pack up 54-50 with 9:41 left, and Ross, who did not play in the win over Colgate on Saturday, was second on the team in rebounds with six despite playing just six minutes.

Sophomore point guard Cam Hayes started the offensive surge in the second half, scoring the first five points to give NC State a 36-35 lead. Hayes would finish with 10 points and three assists.

Seabron’s emergence

Not many would have pegged Seabron as an all-conference caliber performer going into the season, but he has played like it thus far.

Here is a game-by-game look at how Seabron has performed:

• Nov. 9 vs. Bucknell — 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field, 12 rebounds and three steals.

• Nov. 13 vs. Colgate — 21 points on 9-of-16 shooting from the field, 10 rebounds and the two game-winning free throws with two seconds left.

• Nov. 17 vs. Central Connecticut State — 24 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field and 8 of 10 at the line, nine rebounds and three steals.

Through three games, the efficient Seabron is shooting 61.0 percent from the field and has improved his free throw shooting from 57.6 percent last year to 76.5 percent through three games this season.

The one area missing: three-point shooting. Seabron is 0-of-4 on long range shots.

Plus/minus

Seabron: +24 (33)

Pass: +12 (12)

Smith: +11 (24)

Morsell: +9 (29)

Sophomore center Ebenezer Dowuona: +9 (19)

Sophomore forward Jaylon Gibson: +7 (19)

Hayes: +2 (22)

Hellems: +1 (14)

Allen: -1 (22)

Ross: -4 (6)

Game score

Using Hollinger’s measure of productivity, players are 1-40 with 10 being average for an NBA player.

Seabron – 23.5

Hayes – 9.9

Allen – 7.3

Smith – 6.4

Morsell – 4.4

Dowuona – 3.6

Pass – 3.3

Gibson – 3.3

Ross – -0.5

Other stats of note

• NC State has only had 14 turnovers combined all season leading up to this game but had 11 in this matchup. Central Connecticut State had 14 turnovers. The Wolfpacker had more points off turnovers, 17-12.
• NC State outscored the Blue Devils in the paint, 30-24.
• The Wolfpack outrebounded the Blue Devils, 28-26 overall and 12-9 on the offensive glass. However, CCSU had a 7-5 edge in second chance points.
• The Pack had a significant 24-11 advantage in fast break points.
• NC State’s bench outscored Central Connecticut’s reserves, 30-25.
• There were six lead changes. The Wolfpack led for 26:50, and its largest lead was 17 points (79-62 with 26 seconds left). The Blue Devils led for 8:39, at one point holding a six point first half edge (33-27).

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