Instant observations: NC State's second-half run powers Pack past Wake Forest

It appeared to be same story that plagued NC State through all of ACC play was writing itself again with Wake Forest in town for a Big Four clash. The Wolfpack raced out to an 11-point lead, but had it dissolve through its fingers just moments later as the Demon Deacons settled into the game. Wake Forest turned what could have been an NC State runaway game into a back-and-forth game after the Pack's double-digit advantage evaporated faster than water in the Sahara Desert. And if it seemed like deja vu, it's because it pretty much was. NC State has held a second-half lead in 13 of its 16 conference games this season, but it only had three ACC wins to show for it entering the afternoon. And of its dozen league losses, the Wolfpack was within one possession in the final four minutes in seven of them. But, instead of NC State blowing yet another double-digit lead, it found a way to push past Wake Forest. An 18-2 run late in the second half helped power the Wolfpack to an 85-73 win over the Demon Deacons on Saturday afternoon, the program's third win since New Year's Day. NC State's defense held Wake Forest without a field goal for more than eight minutes down the stretch, highlighted by senior wing Dontrez Styles' block at the rim on Deacons' star guard Hunter Sallis. Styles led the Pack with 22 points and 10 rebounds, while freshman guard Paul McNeil added a career-high 24 and senior guard Michael O'Connell chipped in with 9 points and a career-best tying 12 assists.  Here are three observations from the Wolfpack’s victory.