With all due credit to Cat Barber, who once again paced the team (19 points, seven boards, six assists), this was really a game for the peripheral guys. Caleb Martin and Maverick Rowan were a combined 2-20 from the field, which left the big fellas to fill in the gaps, and they did that admirably.
Malik Abu scored 11 points and grabbed 14 rebounds--including nine offensive boards--in 29 minutes. Cat and Abu combined for the highlight of the game. BeeJay Anya was the model of efficiency, hitting seven of eight shots, grabbing seven rebounds, and blocking five shots in 24 minutes. It was easily Anya's most productive game of the season.
Lennard Freeman is quietly rounding into form after his off-season surgery, and that's a great development for the Wolfpack. He grabbed eight rebounds and scored five points on three shots in 25 minutes. Lennard doesn't often make big plays, but he does make a lot of smart ones.
Shaun Kirk knocked down a three (the Pack made only 3-21 three-point attempts), and Cody Martin added four points and three rebounds.
If you'd told me going in that Caleb and Mav would combine to shoot 2-20, I'd have been a lot concerned. Fortunately, their teammates picked up the slack, and also, South Florida is really bad.