Instant observations: NC State falls against Clemson, drops sixth straight

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Marcus Hill NC State — Feb 1, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Marcus Hill (10) dribbles with the ball guarded by Clemson Tigers guard Chase Hunter (1) during the first half of the game at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

It was a matchup of two teams headed in opposite directions. NC State, losers of five straight, entered the afternoon on the outside looking in of even making the ACC Tournament, less than 12 months after winning the title last March. And Clemson? It had won five straight en route to second place in the league standings. Even though the two teams played fairly level basketball in the first half, Clemson was able to pull away in the final 20 minutes. The Tigers handed the Wolfpack its sixth straight loss in a 68-58 defeat on Saturday afternoon at the Lenovo Center. NC State’s losing streak is now the longest since the Pack dropped six consecutive games during the 2021-22 season. The Wolfpack has one just one game in the 2025 calendar year, a 66-65 victory over Notre Dame on Jan. 8. Senior wing Dontrez Styles led the Pack with a season-best 24 points, including six made 3-pointers, while senior guard Marcus Hill added 8 and freshman guard Marcus Hill chipped in with 6 for NC State. As a team, the Wolfpack logged a 38.3 percent shooting clip from the field, including nine made shots from beyond the arc. The Tigers, meanwhile, turned in a 48.1 percent mark overall with six made triples. Here are three observations from the Wolfpack’s latest defeat.