NC State Falls 73-74 at Stanford in Heartbreaking Fashion, Losing 8th Straight

NC State’s men’s basketball team is returning from the West Coast with two losses, falling to Stanford 73-74 tonight after an earlier loss to Cal in the week. The Wolfpack has now dropped eight straight games, marking their second-longest losing streak since the 2000-01 season.

In tonight’s game, the boys from Raleigh held the lead for longer than the Cardinals, but it wasn’t enough when all was said and done. NC State led for 17:44, while Stanford led for 16:20.

The Wolfpack led 33-29 at halftime, thanks to stellar play from freshman guard Trey Parker, who scored 12 points on 4-4 shooting from three-point range. Senior forward Dontrez Styles was 2 for 2 from the field and 4-6 from the free throw line, finishing with 8 points in the first 20 minutes. Junior forward Ismael Diouf added 5 points on 2 for 3 shooting.

NC State didn’t hold the lead at halftime because they outshot Stanford; they didn’t. Stanford shot 46% in the first half, compared to NC State’s 40%. The difference was points off turnovers; NC State forced Stanford to commit nine turnovers in the first half, converting them into nine points.

The Wolfpack also led at the break because they contained potential ACC Player of the Year Maxime Raynaud, holding him to 4 points.

Unfortunately for the Pack, both of those strengths turned into weaknesses in the second half. Stanford committed only one turnover in the latter half, and Raynaud scored 21 points in the final 20 minutes, finishing the game with 25 points and 12 rebounds.

Once again, NC State demonstrated tonight that success is next to impossible when shooting struggles persist. The Wolfpack shot 37.7% from the field, while the Cardinals shot 50%. Given these numbers, it’s surprising NC State only lost by one point.

Despite committing only six turnovers and leading in offensive rebounds (+3), second-chance points (+2), and made free throws (+3), and having 13 assists on 23 made field goals, these are usually keys to victory in basketball.

However, shooting 37.7% from the field and allowing your opponent to shoot 50% do not bode well for winning basketball games.

Trey Parker was nothing short of sensational tonight. While many aspects of coaching could be critiqued, the final play of the game, following a timeout, was perfectly set up, giving Parker the ball in the corner for an ideal shot. Unfortunately, the ball spun out of the rim, so close.

Parker posted career highs in points and assists, finishing with 19 points (6-11 FG/5-8 3PT) and five assists (0 turnovers). He played with confidence and a swagger that could beneficially influence the rest of the team.

At this point, no disrespect to senior guard Michael O’Connell, but I would bench the veteran and start Parker for the rest of the year. O’Connell had zero points and zero assists in 27 minutes of play, going 0-3 from the field. Someone with that level of production should not be on the court for 27 minutes.

Dontrez Styles scored 18 points and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds. He scored 11 of his 18 points from the free throw line.

Senior guard Marcus Hill was only 2 of 7 for 4 points in the first half but turned it around in the second half, scoring 10 points on 4 of 7 shooting.

Diouf had a solid game, with nine points (4-8 FG) and five rebounds.

The problem is clear. When Ben Middlebrooks, Michael O’Connell, Jayden Taylor, and Dennis Parker Jr. combine to shoot 4 of 19 from the field (21.1%), it leads to losses.

Bad offense and defense lead to defeats.

The Wolfpack now sits in 16th place in the ACC with eight games left in the regular season. After winning the ACC Championship last year, NC State is two games away from even making the Conference Tournament.

NC State’s next matchup will be an even bigger challenge, hosting Louisville on Wednesday night, a team that has won 12 of its last 13 games.