Fast recap: Council powers Kansas past NC State in overtime

NC State’s game plan coming into the game was to let Melvin Council Jr. beat them, giving him space on the three-point line. Council did that, powering Kansas with a career-high 36 points in a 77-76 win over the Wolfpack in overtime.

Council came into the game shooting 19% from three, only making five on the season. The St. Bonaventure transfer made nine in Raleigh on Saturday, shooting 9/15 from beyond the arc. Council missed a pair of front ends of one-and-ones in overtime, but the Jayhawks made the final stop with the game on the line.

Darryn Peterson scored 17 and made up a bulk of Kansas’ offense early in the second half. However, he headed to the bench with two minutes left, being worked on by the trainer. Peterson didn’t play in overtime, but the Jayhawks held on.

Quadir Copeland led NC State with 19 points, while Darrion Williams scored 17. Williams came up clutch on multiple occasions late in the second half, sending the game to overtime with a late three. However, he missed a potential game-winning three at the buzzer in overtime.

First half: Melvin Council Jr. makes four threes in first-half slugfest

Both teams struggled to make shots to start the game. Melvin Council Jr. hit a transition three as Kansas started 1/6. NC State missed its first five threes in a 1/8 start from the floor. Flory Bidunga picked up two fouls in the first three minutes, taking an early seat on the bench.

Tre Holloman made the Wolfpack’s first three to take a 7-4 lead. NC State took away the paint and the ball from Darryn Peterson, leading to Melvin Council Jr. shooting five threes in the first seven minutes. The Wolfpack were content to let Council shoot from outside, leaving him in space from beyond the arc.

While he did make two of them, Kansas struggled to find an offensive rhythm. Ven-Allen Lubin scored consecutive buckets to extend NC State’s lead to 11-7. Bill Self called a timeout after Lubin threw down a transition dunk.

Tre White made the Jayhawks’ first layup to tie the game at 11-11. Both team’s shotmaking continued to be few and far between. NC State endured a field goal drought of nearly five minutes, before Quadir Copeland converted an and-one.

Peterson scored his first points at the 6:03 mark, scoring a contested layup to cut Kansas’ deficit to one. Council hit his fourth three of the game to give the Jayhawks their first lead since it was 3-2. NC State had answers, but Peterson made another tough shot to retake the lead.

Kansas built on its lead as it started getting looks at the rim. Council threw a lob to Bryson Tiller, then Bidunga threw down a dunk of his own. The Jayhawks made three straight field goals as part of a 7-0 run to take a 30-23 lead.

However, NC State came right back with seven of its own to tie the game heading into halftime. Paul McNeil Jr. made the Wolfpack’s second three of the half. Then, Darrion Williams tied the game at 30-30 with a second-chance bucket.

Both offenses woke up over the last four minutes of the first half after a sluggish start. Kansas and NC State both barely shot over 30% from the floor. The Jayhawks shot 4/18 from three as the Wolfpack were 2/18.

Second half: Kansas and NC State trade punches into overtime

NC State took a lead early in the second half after Peterson dunked off a back cut. Holloman made another three, then Lubin scored on a second-chance opportunity. The Wolfpack scored six straight to take a 36-32 lead in the first three minutes.

Peterson knocked down two threes to put Kansas back in front, scoring the Jayhawks’ first eight of the half. Kansas extended its lead to 42-26 with a 10-0 run, capped with a Council layup.

However, the Wolfpack wouldn’t go away. Holloman made hist third three to make it a one-score game, 44-41. Kansas started to turn it over, and Copeland made it a one-point game with a layup after a steal.

Council made his fifth three of the game and Peterson continued to score, but NC State took the lead. Alyn Breed and Matt Able knocked down threes to keep pace with the Jayhawks. Then, Lubin scored off a pick-and-roll to give the Wolfpack a 53-51 lead with 8:15 to play.

Kansas locked in on the defensive end, holding NC State scoreless for over three minutes. However, the Jayhawks equally struggled to score with Peterson on the bench. Breed broke the ice to tie the game at 55-55.

Council reclaimed the lead with his sixth three of the evening. However, NC State responded with four straight of its own. Copeland made a spinning layup to hold a 59-58 lead with 3:17 remaining.

Council made another three to put Kansas ahead 61-59. However, Peterson subbed out soon after Council’s three, getting worked on by the Jayhawks’ trainer. Council single-handedly powered Kansas’ offense, driving for a layup to give the Jayhawks’ a 63-61 lead.

However, Lubin came right back with a layup to tie the game. It was Council, of course, to put Kansas back ahead with his eighth three. Williams came right back with a three of his own to tie the game at 66-66 with 0:38 to play.

Kansas missed two looks at the rim, then Copeland missed a contested floater to send the game to overtime.

Overtime: Kansas stands tall in overtime without Peterson

Council made yet another three to give Kansas the lead in overtime. Tre White followed with a tap-in, giving the Jayhawks a 71-68 lead with 3:44 to play.

Council scored again to put the Jayhawks’ lead at five. Yet, Williams answered with consecutive threes to reclaim the lead for the Wolfpack.

White put Kansas ahead with two free throws, but Copeland came right back with a layup. Council tossed an entry pass to Bidunga for a dunk to put the Jayhawks ahead 77-76 with 0:51 remaining in overtime.

Copeland missed another look at the rim, and NC State was forced to play the foul game. Council missed the front end, but Williams missed a three with seven seconds left.

Council missed another front end, giving the Wolfpack the ball with three seconds left. After calling a pair of timeouts, Williams missed a three at the buzzer to secure the win for Kansas.