NC State Men’s Basketball Finds Its Shooting Touch, Overpowering Wake Forest 83-75

The Wolfpack shot 50% from the field, which is the best percentage it has shot since January 15th, when NC State shot 50% in a 76-79 loss at Virginia Tech.

NC State practically led the entire game, holding the lead for 33:10 minutes out of 40. The Wolfpack jumped out to an 11-0 start to the game. However, when the Demon Deacons responded with a 10-0 run of their own, one had to wonder if we were about to see more of the same basketball we’ve seen all season. NC State recovered, leading for a majority of the first half, holding a 6-point lead at the break. In the 2nd half, Wake Forest closed the gap, and eventually took a 5-point lead with 8:23 left in the game. The Wolfpack responded with resolve, going on another 11-0 run, which included 3 three-point field goals. NC State wouldn’t let go of the lead the rest of the way.

In his first career start, freshman Paul McNeil Jr. delivered outstanding results. McNeil set a new career high with 24 points (team lead) on 8 of 13 shooting from the field, and 4 of 7 shooting from three. In the previous game against UNC, McNeil set a new career high with 14 points. One has to wonder why McNeil hasn’t been playing significant minutes all season long, with the Wolfpack’s Achilles’ heel being point production.

Senior Dontrez Styles also chipped in a double-double (2nd of the season) of 22 points and 10 rebounds (team lead). He shot 9 of 17 from the field, and 4 of 11 from three.

Senior Michael O’Connell recorded a season-high 13 assists, surpassing his previous eight against Presbyterian on November 8th. The 13 assists were also a career high for O’Connell, breaking his previous high of 12 on February 26th, 2023, when he was a member of Stanford. This is only the second time in his career that he has had 10+ assists in a game. O’Connell also had 9 points, hitting 2 of his 5 three-point shots.

Senior Ben Middlebrooks had 10 points (2-3 FG) and 7 boards, and Senior Marcus Hill had 9 points on 3 of 6 shooting.

The Wolfpack won this game because they shot the ball better than the Demon Deacons. The superior shooting was the decisive factor in their victory.

Wake Forest was +3 in second-chance points, had 2 fewer turnovers, and made 13 more free throws.

NC State held the Demon Deacons to 41.5% from the field.

Perhaps more than anything, Wake Forest couldn’t account for the Wolfpack’s 13 made three-pointers, which was a season high, topping the 11 made threes against Virginia Tech and Louisville.

NC State will play at Syracuse on Wednesday night, looking to win consecutive games for the first time since December 7th and 10th, when they beat Florida St. and Coppin St.