Courtesy of GoBonnies.com.
RALEIGH, N.C. – Sophomore center Youssou Ndoye recorded his first career double-double against a talented NC State frontcourt, but the No. 25 Wolfpack (9-2) shot 57 percent and never trailed as they defeated the Bonnies (7-4) by a 92-73 score Saturday afternoon at PNC Arena.
Ndoye, who scored in double figures for the third straight game with career-best 14, also grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds to help aid in Bona’s 38-35 rebounding edge and rejected a game-high four shots. Eric Mosley delivered a team-high 18 points – one off tying his career high – as the senior came off the bench to knock down 5-9 3-point attempts and three of his four free throws.
After NC State raced out to a fast start, Bonaventure was able to pull within one, 19-18, midway through the first half following Mosley’s second consecutive 3-pointer. However, that’s as close as the Brown and White would get the rest of the day. The Wolfpack responded by growing their first double-digit lead of the game after a 17-4 extended run gave them a 36-22 lead, but Bonaventure answered with seven straight to pull back within seven, 39-32, following two Conger free throws with 1:20 left.
NC State finished with 44 first-half points en route to its 44-33 halftime advantage – the 44 points being the most SBU has allowed in an opening stanza this year. The Wolfpack opened up a lead as large as 24 midway through the second half, but Bona was able to put together a 9-0 response, capped by a tip-in by Matthew Wright.
Despite the overall defensive effort, Charlon Kloof proved why he’s one of the best defenders in the Atlantic 10 as he primarily matched up with Richard Howell, and held NC State’s leading scorer (14.4 per game) without a single point as Howell logged limited action before fouling out after 12 minutes.
However, the rest of Howell’s teammates made up for that as NC State – which leads the nation in field-goal percentage – displayed that against the Bonnies as its 57.1-percent shooting from the floor is 10 percent higher than any other opponent Bonaventure has played this year. The 92 points is nearly 30 more than SBU came in holding opponents to (64.4), and represents the highest point total against a Bona team since Saint Joseph’s scored 93 in a double-overtime contest last year on Feb. 29.
C.J. Leslie scored a game-high 33 points to lead NC State, and most of those came in the paint as Bona allowed a season-high 50 points in the paint. When NC State couldn’t get what it wanted inside, it looked to Scott Wood on the perimeter, and the ACC’s active career 3-point leader knocked down 5-7 from long range as part of his 23-point outing.
For the third straight game, freshman Jean Yves Toupane logged game action as he came off the bench and knocked down two 3-pointers and a free throw as part of his seven-point afternoon in eight minutes. Wright tallied eight points, while leading scorers Chris Johnson and Demitrius Conger failed to reach their averages as each finished with seven points.
St. Bonaventure will now begin an eight-day break between games – its longest of the season – before returning to action on Monday, Dec. 31, in a New Year’s Eve matinee against Iona. A special $15 ticket is available for families, and it includes a food voucher. For more information, contact the Ticket Office at 716-375-2500.
GAME NOTES: Bonaventure shot 13-32 (40.6 percent) in both the first and second half … NC State ran at every opportunity, and it resulted in a 24-8 fastbreak edge in points … Michael Davenport added five points off the bench, Marquise Simmonsnetted four and Kloof contributed three to round out the SBU scoring … Conger issued three assists and now has 193 for his career.
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