RALEIGH — The N.C. State men’s basketball team came into their biggest test of the season thus far against seventh-ranked Auburn seeking a coveted resume-building win and did just that securing a 78-71 upset over the Tigers.
N.C. State’s Markell Johnson came back into the starting lineup after having not started at Penn State and scored 27 points to lead all scorers and shot 5-for-8 from behind the arc.
“It was a great game I thought our guys came out and competed,” N.C. State head coach Kevin Keatts said. “I thought we fought for 40 minutes which is what I have been asking our guys to do and it was a great program win for us. I want Markell to stay aggressive, I think he can be one of the best guards in the country if he stays this aggressive.”
Johnson ignited the PNC Arena crowd midway through the second half scoring three straight 3-point baskets on three straight offensive possessions, the second of which being a four-point play to give N.C. State a 57-49 lead. With 3:56 to go Johnson once again came up big with a steal that led to a breakaway layup to give the Wolfpack at 69-57 lead that they would not relinquish.
The Wolfpack started off the game on fire offensively with a flurry of 3-point baskets, one from Johnson, and back-to-back 3-pointers from Braxton Beverly to take 13-4 lead within the first five minutes of the game. N.C. State additionally came out strong defensively by forcing nine Auburn turnovers in the first ten minutes of play.
Auburn’s Bryce Brown completed a three-point play with 5:24 to go in the first half to cut the lead down to six points at 23-17. Brown came into the matchup leading Auburn with 16.7 points per game but was held to just three points while also committing six of Auburn’s 25 turnovers.
In the second half the Tigers kept the game close with the Wolfpack as they tied the game at 47-all with 10 minutes left to play thanks to consecutive buckets from J’Von McCormick. McCormick was a bright spot for the Tigers as he came off the bench to lead all scorers for Auburn with 14 points while setting a career high in points scored. The Tigers would not take the lead after tying the game.
“N.C. State was very well prepared,” Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl said. “Johnson was as good as advertised and Beverly and Devon Daniels played well. We turned the ball over too much and took too many ill-advised shots. I thought it was a good game and a great win for N.C. State.”
Auburn’s (9-2) only other loss this season was to another triangle team in Duke.
For N.C. State (10-1), Beverly finished four of five from behind the arc and ended the night with 15 points while Daniels also had 15 points off the bench. The Wolfpack play at home again on Saturday against USC-Upstate.
