State’s Anya may have been the difference vs. Duke

Beejay Anya.
Beejay Anya.
Ok, guards Trevor Lacey and Ralston Turner will get the most ink as the N.C. State transfers led the Wolfpack to an 87-75 home upset over previously unbeaten Duke.

But the Pack had the size advantage, especially with big sophomore Beejay Anya, who has actually lost almost 60 pounds since he came to NC State. Anya, weighing in at 290, scored 14 points, hauled in six rebounds and blocked four shots off the bench. He averages just 4.5 points a game.

Lacey and Turner drained nine of 14 three pointers to lead the Pack to an 18-point margin at 72-54 with less than six minutes to go.

But predictably the Blue Devils made a run. State, which had been the aggressor the whole game, seemed to playing not to lose and Duke took
advantage by scoring 10 straight points.

Up just 72-64, the floundering Wolfpack needed a lift and Anya gave it to them. State’s Turner took an ill-advised three-pointer from the right corner with 28 seconds still left on the shot clock. That was not the time to be aggressive, that was time to burn some clock.

But luckily for the Pack, Anya fought his way through two defenders and grabbed the ball above the rim with two hands and jammed it in for a 10-point lead with 2:24 left.

He came down hard on his side and had to leave the game for a moment. When he came back in, he made a play on the other end of the court.

Duke’s Matt Jones seemed to be going in for two that would have cut the lead to seven with 1:20 left but Anya came over to help and blocked his fourth shot of the day, his third of the half, to help keep Duke at bay.

In the last minute, Anya added an assist and two defensive rebounds, including the final rebound of the game.

Lacey and Turner may have gotten the Pack in position to win but Anya, who played just 19 minutes, kept the Blue Devils from coming all the way back late.

The game certainly gives the Wolfpack some confidence but it also shows Duke’s defensive weaknesses. The Pack 55 percent from the floor including 62.5 percent from beyond the arc.

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