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NC State Basketball: 3 keys for the Wolfpack against Penn State

MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 01: Markell Johnson #11 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack talks with head coach Kevin Keatts against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the HoopHall Miami Invitational at American Airlines Arena on December 1, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 01: Markell Johnson #11 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack talks with head coach Kevin Keatts against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the HoopHall Miami Invitational at American Airlines Arena on December 1, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images /

1. The supporting cast must show up

The Wolfpack have quite the trio of scorers on offense leading the way but they also have a nice group on underclassmen waiting in the wings. Sophomore guard Braxton Beverly is the proverbial Sixth Man and energy guy for this squad. He’s producing 6.6 points per game this year.

Freshman forward Jericole Hellems is one player that’s seeing success in 2018-19. He’s averaging 8.1 points and 3.1 rebounds per contest and shooting 41.7 percent from the field.

Sophomore guard Devon Daniels is putting up 9.6 points and 4.3 rebounds per game through nine appearances (7 starts). Daniels poured in a season-high 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting in the Wolfpack’s last victory over the Western Carolina Catamounts. The Nittany Lions are a few notches above the Catamounts, but the potential still remains.

Sophomore forward DJ Funderburk will be a reserve to watch and is a considerable X-factor in this meeting. He’s recorded 8.0 points and 4.4 rebounds per game through his nine appearances for the Wolfpack.

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He put up 16 points off the bench in an 80-65 victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores back on Dec. 1. This is another one of those games where the Wolfpack may need a big performance from the 6-foot-10 big man to get a victory.