GREENSBORO, N.C. — Free throws in the last minute carried N.C. State past Mississippi State 77-73 on Sunday in a preseason exhibition at Greensboro’s First Horizon Coliseum, the first game of the Justin Gainey era and one played in the new head coach’s hometown.
Gainey, an NC State alum, is only the fourth graduate of the school picked to lead the program in the modern era. The result does not count in the standings, but the Wolfpack had been ranked ahead of the Bulldogs in preseason computer ratings and was expected to win.
It was not easy. NC State let a lead of eight slip away and trailed by six with 2:50 to play. From there Mississippi State did not make another field goal. Ven-Allen Lubin went to the line with a minute left and made both shots to put the Wolfpack ahead 72-71, then sank two more with 21.7 seconds remaining. Paul McNeil iced it with two free throws with one second left.
McNeil and Hofstra transfer Preston Edmead shared the team lead with 16 points each. McNeil struggled from the field at 3 of 11 but did not miss at the stripe, going 9 for 9. Maryland transfer Darius Adams added 14 points, six rebounds and five assists, and Lubin had 13.
The concerns were on the glass. Mississippi State won the rebounding battle 39-30, grabbed 18 offensive boards and turned them into 15 second-chance points. Foul trouble also limited the Wolfpack bigs, and both teams were whistled for 24 fouls.
Gainey said the team will return to the Greensboro building in December and again in March. More exhibitions are ahead before the regular season, starting with Division II Lenoir-Rhyne.
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