Nov. 29, 2004
Box Score
Box Score in PDF Format
By KEITH PARSONS
AP Sports Writer
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Julius Hodge had 22 points to offset some horrible shooting by his teammates, leading No. 16 North Carolina State to a 60-53 victory over Purdue on Monday night in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.
Playing in his 100th career game, Hodge added eight rebounds and five assists, while Ilian Evtimov and Cameron Bennerman each had 11 points for North Carolina State.
The Wolfpack (5-0) won their first four games by an average of 37 points but never could pull away from the Boilermakers (1-3), who are off to their worst start since 1962-63 in coach Gene Keady's farewell season.
Carl Landry led Purdue with 18 points, and Brandon McKnight added 14.
Through four games against mostly undermanned opponents, the Wolfpack shot 58 percent from the field, and only Bennerman (48 percent) made less than half his shots. They were nearly as effective from beyond the 3-point arc, making 47 percent over that span.
Nothing was that easy against Purdue. N.C. State missed its first eight 3s and shot 33 percent in each half, including Hodge's 8-for-15.
Evtimov made consecutive 3-pointers sandwiched around a layup for Landry, and Hodge added a free throw to give the Wolfpack a 43-35 lead. After a turnover by Purdue, Bennerman added another from long distance to increase the margin to 11.
Later, when a jumper by McKnight cut it to seven, Evtimov drove and drew the defense, then found Bennerman alone on the wing. He swished another 3, and a steal and a dunk minutes later by Tony Bethel made it 53-42 with 5:38 left.
But the Boilermakers rallied, thanks to a questionable intentional foul called by referee Karl Hess. Matt Kiefer broke free after a steal and was fouled hard - but cleanly, according to replays - by Hodge. He made two free throws and added a 3-pointer about 2 minutes later to cut the lead to 57-51.
McKnight then drove through the defense for an uncontested layup, and Purdue was within four. Bethel turned it over but the Boilermakers got no closer.