Quick Hits From #23 NC State’s 81-70 Win Over Boise St.

#23 NC State bounced back from their loss to Seton Hall yesterday, defeating Boise St. 81-70 in their 2nd game of the 2025 Maui Invitational. Here are my Quick Hits.

Box Score

• From the tipoff, this looked like a completely different NC State from yesterday’s loss to Seton Hall.
  • They played with more energy. The half court offense was moving at what seemed like twice the speed. Their defense was swarming. They were active in the passing lanes.
• Offensively, and defensively, this was the complete opposite of yesterday’s loss to the Pirates.
  • Yesterday, Seton Hall shot 51.8% from the field, and the Pack shot 42.4%.
  • Today, NC State shot 50%, and they held the Broncos to a putrid 33.9% shooting percentage. The Wolfpack’s three-point shooting was back to what we saw in the first four games, making 42.9% from beyond the arc today.
• NC State was unselfish, making 15 of their 27 field goals off of assists.
• The Wolfpack was committed 5 less turnovers than the Broncos, finishing +10 in points off of turnovers.
  • The two difference makers defensively came off the bench.
    • Redshirt Junior Terrance Areceneaux had 5 steals, and Freshman Matt Able had 3.
    • I should also give kudos to Senior Guard Tre Holloman, who chipped in 3 steals as well.
    • Arceneaux also had 2 blocks. He was extremely disruptive.
• While we are on the topic, let’s give it up for the Wolfpack’s bench today.
  • Terrence Arceneaux was not only outstanding defensively, but he also scored 11 points, and grabbed 4 boards. The Houston transfer made 4 of his 5 shots from the field, and even knocked one down from three.
  • Matt Able had 9 points, Senior Alyn Breed had 5 and Musa Sagnia had 3.
  • 34.6% of NC State’s points came from the bench.
• Yesterday, NC State was dominated in the paint. Today, they scored 26 points in the paint, compared to Boise St.’s 14. They were -13 in fast break points yesterday, and were +12 today.
  • The Wolfpack really did correct most of their wrongs from yesterday.
• Senior Forward Darrion Williams led the way with 16 points for the Pack, making 7 of his 13 shots, and 2 of 5 from three.
• Senior Ven-Allen Lubin had a double-double comprised of 11 points and 12 rebounds, making 4 of his 8 shots.
• Sophomore Guard Paul McNeil Jr. was NC State’s 4th player to score in double figures, finishing with 10 points on 3 of 8 shooting from the field, and 2 of 5 from beyond the arc.
• NC State did commit plenty of unnecessary fouls, but the referees were a little trigger happy with their whistles today.
  • The refs called 8 more fouls on the Wolfpack.
  • Three NC State players fouled out: Williams, Holloman and Copeland.
  • Boise State shot 9 more free throws.
  • With that being said, credit the Pack with making 78.3% from the charity stripe.
• On a downer, the Broncos were +7 in offensive rebounds.
• NC State covered the 6.5-point spread, winning by 11.
  • The Total went Under by only half a point!
• The Wolfpack will play the winner of Chaminade and Texas tomorrow.