RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - North Carolina State coach Kevin Keatts won't hesitate to go to his bench, especially if he keeps getting production like this.
Graduate transfer Eric Lockett had season highs of 15 points and eight rebounds to lead a high-scoring group of reserves in the Wolfpack's 98-71 win against USC Upstate on Saturday, avoiding any stumble following a rousing upset of No. 7 Auburn a few days earlier.
With the starting five having a largely quiet afternoon, the Wolfpack (11-1) instead thrived by getting 62 points from the bench to account for nearly two-thirds of the team's production. Lockett led the way after not even seeing the court against the Tigers, while Devon Daniels (13 points and eight rebounds) was one of four double-digit scorers among the reserves.
''I know a lot of you guys would say, `Well, your starters didn't play well,''' Keatts said. ''I put together a roster with 10 guys who I feel comfortable that I can play all 10 guys.''
The Wolfpack shot 55 percent and led most of the way by double figures, winning a fifth straight game and positioning Keatts' club for a possible appearance in Monday's new AP Top 25 poll. N.C. State also has its best start since going 12-1 to start the 2005-06 season.
Senior Pat Welch scored a career-high 14 points with four 3-pointers for the Spartans (4-9), who shot 47 percent. But USC Upstate committed 21 turnovers against the Wolfpack's pressure, and N.C. State converted those into 28 points.
USC Upstate managed trim a 23-point deficit to 70-59 midway through the second half, but Lockett answered with a 3-pointer, then another - starting a run of five in a row for the Wolfpack to re-inflate the lead.
''His players play the right way and they play hard,'' USC Upstate coach Dave Dickerson said. ''And they compete. ... We faced a really good team. I'm proud of the way our guys battled and stayed with the game plan.''
BIG PICTURE
N.C. State: The Wolfpack turned in a rousing and impressive performance in knocking off Auburn. The trick Saturday was to follow up with a quality performance in a game N.C. State was expected to win comfortably. It just didn't come in conventional fashion with the reserves in charge.
UP NEXT
N.C. State: Loyola (Maryland) visits the Wolfpack on Friday night.