Wolfpack Escapes Upset Against UNCG 68-64

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The NC State men’s basketball team made the key plays down the stretch to capture a 68-64 victory over UNC Greensboro at Greensboro Coliseum on Monday night. The win allowed the Wolfpack to finish non-ACC play with a 10-3 record.

T.J. Warren led NC State with 24 points (16 in the first half). Anthony ‘Cat’ Barber added 17 points and six assists and Desmond Lee finished with 15 points.

The Wolfpack led the Spartans (7-8) 38-35 at halftime and quickly lifted the lead to double figures. A 9-2 Wolfpack run over the first 2:05 of the second period gave NC State a 47-37 lead. The advantage grew to 54-37 at the 16:03 mark and NC State gained control of the game.

An 8-0 UNCG run keyed by Tevon Saddler pulled the Spartans to within 62-57 with 5:54 remaining, and the home team would climb even closer. A floater by Saddler cut NC State’s lead to 63-61.

And that’s where the Wolfpack made the game’s winning plays. Lee drove the lane for a dunk and Warren and Barber made enough free throws to keep the Spartans at bay. With NC State leading 67-64 with 8 seconds left, Barber stole the ball from UNCG’s Kayel Locke and the Wolfpack clinched the game at the foul line.

Locke finished with a team-high 19 points for UNCG, which had defeated Virginia Tech 55-52 just two days earlier. Saddler, who did not play vs. Virginia Tech, finished with 18 points off the bench.

The Wolfpack got off to a slow start, with UNCG leading 6-2 before either team could break a sweat. State, using its size advantage on the perimeter, answered behind an array of drives to the basket. It was 11-11 when the Spartans would counter with a 9-2 run to take a 20-13 lead. NC State would close the first half on an 8-1 run to have the lead at halftime.

NC State, which also finished the 2013 calendar year with 23 victories, opens ACC play against new league member Pittsburgh this weekend. The Panthers’ first ACC contest will be Saturday, Jan. 4 at PNC Arena at noon.