N.C. State polishes off UNC Asheville 87-66

The Wolfpack shot 59 percent from the field and had 22 assists in a paint-by-numbers 87-66 win over visiting UNC Asheville.

“There’s no defense that can stop the breakaway layup,” coach Herb Sendek said after State (7-3) won for the sixth time in its last seven outings. “At times we made it look easy.”

Especially Inge. On a night when State welcomed back 6-8 glass-eater Damon Thornton — who served a first-semester suspension following an October DUI charge — Inge turned the gym into a shooting gallery. The senior forward made all seven of his field goal attempts and scored 17 of his game-high 20 points in the second half, when State used the Bulldogs as a pre-Christmas stocking stuffer.

“He’s a banger inside,” Miller said after nailing four 3-pointers and contributing 14 points. “I love that he’s such a high-contact guy who is able to finish plays. For him to be dunking and finishing like that gives our team a huge boost.”

Inge had four slam dunks, including one that gave State a 69-42 lead with 7:37 remaining, capping a 22-5 second-half spree.

“I thought Kenny really came out at the half with some extra fire,” said Sendek. “As much as anyone, he was the catalyst for that run we went on. He seemed to have a lot of desire and passion and made a couple really aggressive plays.”

State took control of the game midway through the first half. Miller, the ACC’s leading 3-point shooter, hit back-to-back treys from the left and right corners to provide 20-14 lead. Teammate Anthony Gundy followed with a couple of long-distance calls before Damien Wilkins hit a tape-measure shot from the right side, giving the Pack an 11-point edge.

“They shot the ball better than they have all season,” said UNCA coach Eddie Biedenbach, a 1968 N.C. State graduate. “We battled them for a while, but we had some defensive lapses and gave them some easy shots. It’s tough to win that way.”

It’s even tougher when a guy like Thornton, State’s leading rebounder each of the past three seasons, opens his season with a top-shelf performance. He shot 4-for-5 from the field, grabbed eight rebounds and made three steals in a 15-minute stint.

“I was anxious for Damon,” said Sendek. “What he’s been through has been very humiliating, very difficult, and tonight he had to go out in public in shorts and a tank top. I was pleased that he handled it with a lot of grace.”

But more than any player, this game belonged to Inge, who is averaging close to 15 points and nine rebounds per night.

“I think he’s having a career year,” said Sendek. “He’s leading the ACC in double-doubles (4) and has about 22 in his career. I’ve been very pleased with Kenny’s play, especially since we’ve been short up front through our first 10 games.”

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