WATCH: Terquavion Smith beats up a chair during NC State - Creighton game
NC State star Terquavion Smith is having himself a day against Creighton as his team tries to stay in the fight in an opening-round NCAA Tournament game.
And few have been able to stop Smith so far. Not even chairs.
During one timeout after a frustrating stretch for Smith and with Creighton racing back out in front in the second half, Smith took out his frustrations on a chair during one of his team’s timeouts.
Terquavion Smith had logged 21 points to lead his team, but few others have stepped up the way the Wolfpack need them to in the contest.
The intensity just hasn’t been there, something coach Kevin Keatts bemoaned at halftiime.
“We’ve just got to pick our intensity up,” Keatts said. “We’re letting too many ball reversals. They’re throwing the ball over the top to the big guy. We’ve got to get the help side, we’ve got to have more ball pressure.”
Creighton surges back in front
NC State quickly overturned a 28-26 halftime deficit in the second half, and the Wolfpack actually built a sizeable lead before watching it fall apart again.
The Wolfpack surged forward to a 37-30 lead early in the second half as Smith and company came out of the gates hot.
But it didn’t take long for Creighton to once again find its rhythm and take over again. By the time of this writing, Creighton led 56-47 with 6:40 left to play in the game.
The Bluejays are doing it despite losing forward Mason Miller for the game due to an ankle injury.
Big man Ryan Kalkbrenner has been the focal point of the offense, with Kalkbrenner already having 26 points in the contest on an incredibly impressive 10-of-13 shooting from the floor. That was a career high scoring total for Kalkbrenner, with several minutes remaining.
Mason Miller out for the game for Creighton
According to sideline reporter Andy Katz, citing head coach Greg McDermott, Creighton forward Mason Miller will not return to the game after spraining his ankle.
“I have an update on Miller,” Katz said. “No break, it is a sprained ankle. Greg McDermott telling me right before the half he is done for the game.”
Miller turned his ankle in the first half when he came down on Smith’s foot while closing out on a 3-point shot. He immediately hit the deck and had trouble walking off the floor, needing assistance.
After being tended to on the bench, he was taken to the locker room.