Ex-NC State Basketball Player Fuels Huge Win in Historic Arena
Two-year NC State basketball backup guard LJ Thomas played at least a handful of minutes in most Wolfpack games as a freshman and sophomore. However, the former three-star recruit from Plant City, Fla., left the 2023-24 squad late in the regular season and ultimately transferred to the Austin Peay Governors for his junior campaign.
ALSO READ: NC State Star Gets Surprise After First Win as Head Coach
Now, two outings into Austin Peay's 2024-25 schedule, although the 21-year-old Thomas hadn't played a regular season game since Jan. 30 with NC State, it looks as though he's already become the Governors' go-to bucket-getter and versatile force.
On Friday night, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound playmaker powered a 68-66 upset road win over the Butler Bulldogs (1-1, 0-0 Big East) in their famed Hinkle Fieldhouse.
DOWN GOES BUTLER!!🎩🏀#BleedRed | #LetsGoPeay pic.twitter.com/cNh0xjMQpI
— Austin Peay Men's Basketball (@GovsMBB) November 9, 2024
In addition to delivering a game-high 29 points on 13-for-27 shooting from the field, accounting for almost half of his team's 28 buckets against the Bulldogs, Thomas recorded eight rebounds, three assists, and two steals across 36 minutes on the floor.
LJ Thomas a big-time performance to help Austin Peay knock off Butler 68-66:
— Rising Ballers Network (@dylan_lutey) November 9, 2024
29 points
8 rebounds
3 assists
13-27 FG@mid_madness pic.twitter.com/zgwmfkGywn
He is now averaging 20.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.0 steals for second-year Austin Peay head coach Corey Gipson and his upstart 2024-25 Governors, looking to build on the program's 19-16 record (10-6 in conference play) last season.
LJ Thomas and Austin Peay (2-0, 0-0 Atlantic Sun) next face the Chattanooga Mocs (0-2, 0-0 Southern) at 8 p.m. ET Monday.
ALSO READ: Kevin Keatts Reacts to NC State's Close Win Over Blue Hose
Stay tuned to NC State Wolfpack On SI for more updates on former Wolfpack players and other NC State basketball news.
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.