NC State Couldn’t Push Past FSU, Falling to Seminoles 78-73 down in Tallahassee

It was a foul fest down in Tallahassee.

NC State was called for 26 personal fouls, compared to Florida State’s 18.

The Wolfpack never led for a single second against the #17 Seminoles today, but like most games, they were in it until the final seconds.

Despite shooting only 27% in the 1st half, NC State only trailed by 5 points heading into the break (35-30), thanks in a large part to forcing 10 turnovers.

The Wolfpack’s shooting woes were reversed in the 2nd half, shooting 55% from the field, and 60% from three, but it wasn’t enough to hold off the Seminoles in the end.

Redshirt Sophomore DJ Funderburk was NC State’s most valuable player today, putting up 18 points (9-10 FT) and 9 rebounds.

Redshirt Senior Torin Dorn had 12 points and 6 rebounds.

Junior Markell Johnson had 14 points, with two clutch three’s near the end of the game that made things interesting, but his two turnovers in the final 6 minutes were momentum killer’s.

Despite shooting only 40.7% from the field for the game, it was a 1-possession game until 6 seconds left in the game.

You could try to blame the Wolfpack’s inability to stop FSU’s penetration on their foul trouble’s, but I think there was plenty to blame on a lack of fundamental defense. The Seminole’s continually made it to the rack with ease.

NC State is now 20-9 with two remaining regular season games: vs. Georgia Tech on Wednesday & at Boston College on Saturday. The Wolfpack will undoubtedly be favored in each of these contests, but as we learned at Wake Forest…no game is a gimme.