Johnson returns to lead NC State past Detroit Mercy 84-65
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Braxton Beverly scored a career-high 23 points to help North Carolina State beat Detroit Mercy 84-65 on Sunday.
C.J. Bryce added 19 points for the Wolfpack (1-1), who welcomed back starting point guard Markell Johnson.
Devon Daniels had 14 points off the bench as the Wolfpack avoided their first 0-2 start since the 1993-94 season.
Johnson missed N.C. State's opener, an 82-81 overtime loss to Georgia Tech on Tuesday night, with an ankle injury. He scored only three points against the Titans, but he finished with 10 assists and seven rebounds.
"It was great having him back," Daniels said. "It makes everything easier out there for us."
Beverly made 6 of 8 3-point attempts, 3 of 4 in each half. He scored 14 points in the first half as N.C. State took a 43-30 halftime lead.
The Wolfpack took control early, scoring on four consecutive possessions as part of a 10-0 run to seize a 13-6 lead.
"I love the way the team played," Johnson said. "We got out in transition and got back on defense."
Antoine Davis scored 28 points to lead the Titans, who shot 5 of 25 from 3-point range in their season opener.
BIG PICTURE
Detroit Mercy: The Titans return just two of their seven players who averaged more than four points per game a year ago, so they might need time to develop chemistry. Perhaps the team can use its first seven games, all away from home, to bond during nearly 10,000 miles of travel. "It's a chance for us to get better," Detroit Mercy coach Mike Davis said. "We've got some games against really tough opponents."
N.C. State: Starting post player D.J. Funderburk remained out with an indefinite suspension, so the Wolfpack still weren't at full strength. But N.C. State showed that it's a different team with Johnson at point guard. He made a major impact on the game despite shooting just 1 of 8.
FAMILY TIES
As Detroit Mercy coach Mike Davis was coaching his son Antoine, another famous coach in the building watched his son play for the Titans. Kentucky coach John Calipari looked on as his son Brad went scoreless in 15 minutes.
STAR WATCH
Antoine Davis was a marked man by N.C. State's defense after he averaged 26.1 points per game last season and broke Stephen Curry's NCAA record for most 3-pointers by a freshman. He shot 11 of 23 from the floor, converting several contested, off-balance attempts. "They made him work really hard," Mike Davis said.
FATHER KNOWS BEST?
Mike Davis picked up a technical foul late in the first half after his son lost the ball out of bounds while driving to the basket in transition. Both Davises looked for a foul call, but the elder Davis was more vocal.
BLOCK PARTY
Freshman Manny Bates scored eight points for N.C. State, asserting himself with alley-oop dunks on lobs over Detroit Mercy's 1-3-1 zone. But he made an even bigger impact on defense, where he blocked seven shots and changed a few others. Bates has 12 blocks through the Wolfpack's first two games.
"The dude is a game changer on the back end of the press," N.C. State coach Kevin Keatts said.
UP NEXT
Detroit Mercy: The Titans play another Atlantic Coast Conference foe on the road when they take on Clemson on Sunday.
N.C. State: The Wolfpack host Florida International on Wednesday night at PNC Arena, where they have won 33 of their last 34 nonconference games.
