Lowe: Pack Needs More Than Scoring from Costner

Brandon Costner led N.C. State in scoring last season, at 16.8 points per game, but has slipped out of the starting lineup this year.

He did not start in the Wolfpack’s win at Florida State on Saturday and missed his only shot in 12 minutes of play.

Costner’s absence was glaring in the stretch as N.C. State went with a lineup built around Ben McCauley and J.J. Hickson. McCauley finished with seven points and four rebounds and Hickson had 12 points and 10 rebounds.

State coach Sidney Lowe, asked what he needs from Costner, said Wednesday, "It's not so much scoring, it's what else is he doing to help the team? Is it double-digit rebounds? If he only gets four shots, can he make two? He doesn't have to get 15 points. But we can't win if he goes one for eight."

Costner is now averaging 9.6 points, fourth on the team.

State plays at Duke on Thursday, and Lowe emphasized that his team must take care of the ball.

He said that’s true not only for the point guards but also for the big men.

"They can't lead us in turnovers,” Lowe said. “If they lead us in turnovers that's not good. They don't handle the ball enough to lead us in turnovers. They can't do that over there."

Another issue for State, of course, will be defending a Duke team that gets up the floor quickly.

"What makes it so tough is they're going to have four guys in the game that can run the floor,” Lowe said. “And three of those guys can shoot the three. They're going to spread you out. Your tendency in transition is to run and defend the paint first. That makes you vulnerable to their three-point shooting."