Ex-NC State Basketball Guard Erupts for Governors Once Again
LJ Thomas reached double-digit points only three times across two years in an NC State basketball jersey. Now, the 6-foot-2 guard, a former three-star recruit out of Bull City Prep in Durham, N.C., has eclipsed 10 points in all but seven of his 27 games with the Austin Peay Governors (13-16, 8-8 ASUN).
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On Thursday night, Thomas turned up the dial on his bucket-finding prowess to help fuel an impressive 92-78 road win over the Queens Royals (17-12, 10-6 ASUN). He posted 23 points, shooting 6-for-15 from the field, 1-for-1 from downtown, and 10-for-11 at the charity stripe.
Thomas added six rebounds, four assists, and two steals.
Timeout Royals.🎩🏀
— Austin Peay Men's Basketball (@GovsMBB) February 21, 2025
Govs have made six of their last seven attempts from the field and LJ Thomas is up to a game-high 21 points!
🎩7⃣7⃣
👑6⃣9⃣#BleedRed | #LetsGoPeay pic.twitter.com/t5wR26Pdh7
He's currently averaging 13.9 points, almost six times his Wolfpack scoring average, along with 4.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.1 steals in 31.4 minutes per contest as a full-time starter for the Governors.
Austin Peay and its former NC State basketball deep reserve are now gearing up to host the Lipscomb Bisons (20-9, 12-4 ASUN) at 7 p.m. ET Monday.
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Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of NC State Wolfpack on SI, Duke Blue Devils on SI, and North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining NC State Wolfpack on SI in 2024, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.