Hodge leads N.C. State past Manhattan

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Hodge leads N.C. State past Manhattan
By KEITH PARSONS, AP Sports Writer
Dec 5, 2004 - 8:52:00 PM

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RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- Julius Hodge insisted he was on time. North Carolina State coach Herb Sendek thought otherwise.

North Carolina State's Julius Hodge reacts following a dunk during the first half over Manhattan's Jason Wingate (5), Sunday, December 5, 2004, at the RBC Center in Raleigh, N.C. Hodge had 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists in the 76-60 win. (AP Photo/ Karl DeBlaker)

``I guess we'll disagree,'' Sendek said.

They had no problem agreeing on the level of Hodge's play Sunday night. He was outstanding.

The senior bounced back from a brief benching to finish with 17 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists, helping the 16th-ranked Wolfpack hold off pesky Manhattan 76-60.

For good measure, he added a career-high four blocks, and had three steals.

``He did some really good things, as we all have come to expect and enjoy,'' Sendek said.

A day earlier, Hodge was late to a team function -- at least by Sendek's watch -- so he sat out the first 5 minutes against Manhattan. He didn't sulk during his time on the sidelines, cheering enthusiastically while Cameron Bennerman got his first start of the year.

``I wasn't late for anything,'' Hodge said. ``Coach has a philosophy. If you're early, you're on time. If you're on time, you're late. I disagree with it, but we got the win, and that's all that matters.''

Jordan Collins and Ilian Evtimov each added 13 points for the Wolfpack (6-0), who trailed for most of the first 15 minutes before finally taking control.

The Jaspers (3-2), coming off a double-overtime loss to Fairfield in their Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opener, shot only 33 percent and had several players struggle with foul trouble. Freshman C.J. Anderson led them with 18 points and 15 rebounds, and freshman Arturo Dubois scored 14 points before he was ejected for a flagrant foul with about 3 1/2 minutes left.

While going for a rebound, Dubois slapped Collins across the face, and referee Ted Valentine immediately stopped play and sent Dubois to the bench. Mike Konovelchick fouled out, and Dubois and leading scorer Peter Mulligan both finished with four fouls.

Mulligan shot 2-for-12 and had only 11 points, 10 less than his season average.

``They're a great team,'' Anderson said. ``They can play with anybody.''

Hodge still had time to flash the all-around ability that made him player of the year last season in the Atlantic Coast Conference. He started a 17-0 run in the first half with a dunk, then helped N.C. State pull away with two more in the second half.

Hodge followed up a miss by Tony Bethel by jamming the ball through, then jumped in the passing lane for a steal that led to a breakaway slam.

``I can't explain it,'' said Hodge, normally a player who keeps his feet a bit closer to the floor. ``My legs were feeling fresh. I can be athletic at times.''

That made it 49-39, but Manhattan wasn't done. With the margin eight points, Anderson went to the free throw line for the Jaspers. He missed both shots, and on the other end, Evtimov made a layup, Collins connected on a 3 and added two free throws. Just like that, the Wolfpack's lead was 65-50.

``Anytime you don't convert your free throws, they always come back to haunt you,'' Anderson said.

Manhattan led 25-18 midway through the first half after a 3-pointer by Kenny Minor, but N.C. State responded with 17 straight points in a span of nearly 6 minutes. After the dunk by Hodge, Levi Watkins made a layup and Bethel added a jumper and a 3-pointer.

Meanwhile, the Jaspers went cold, missing eight straight shots. By the time Evtimov converted two free throws to end the run, the Wolfpack led 35-25.

``They're a very difficult team to defend,'' Manhattan coach Bobby Gonzales said. ``N.C. State was just better than us. I don't want to put pressure on Herb, but they look like a Sweet 16 or an Elite Eight team.''