RALEIGH (AP) — Garrison Mathews had a career-high 44 points as Lipscomb narrowly defeated NC State 94-93 in the quarterfinals of the NIT on Wednesday.
Mathews set the program’s single-game scoring record in the Division I era and his points were the most by an opposing player at Reynolds Coliseum. He was 14 of 24 from the field, including 8 of 13 from 3-point range, and hit 8 of 11 free throws. He also had eight rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Kenny Cooper had 12 points and seven assists for Lipscomb (28-7). Ahsan Asadullah added four blocks. Michael Buckland had six assists for the visitors, who rallied from a four-point deficit in the final minute to end the Wolfpack’s season at 24-12.
Markell Johnson, who scored all 19 of his points in the second half, dribbled down the left side of the lane and finished a contested layup with his right hand with 9.6 seconds left to give NC State a 93-92 lead. Cooper took the inbounds pass and nearly turned it over in the backcourt, but got into the lane to make a floater at 1.7.
Torin Dorn scored a career-high 34 points and had nine rebounds for the Wolfpack. C.J. Bryce had 10 points.
Lipscomb, a No. 5 seed, will play sixth-seeded Wichita State on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden. Texas and TCU take part in the other semifinal game.
