NC State basketball, shorthanded, falls 89-82 to Syracuse (with box score)
NC State basketball started red hot from the field, but Syracuse finished even hotter and prevailed 89-82 over the Wolfpack at PNC Arena in Raleigh.
NC State, shorthanded almost all season, was even more so Wednesday with news that sophomore center Ebenezer Dowuona would miss the contest with what was termed a lower leg injury that he suffered during Saturday’s loss at North Carolina.
That left sophomore Jaylon Gibson as the lone healthy player taller than 6-foot-7 on the Pack roster, and he responded with the best game of his career, 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field and adding six rebounds and a blocked shot.
However, NC State did most of its damage from beyond the arc, making 10 of 20 three-pointers in the first half to take a 45-42 advantage at the break.
Syracuse responded by making its first 11 shots of the second half. It finished 59.3 percent overall from the field and made 11 of 19 threes for 57.9 percent in an effort that Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim noted was as good as it could get for the Orange.
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Nevertheless, NC State had a chance late in the game. After Wolfpack redshirt sophomore wing Dereon Seabron made a pair of free throws with 1:57 left, NC State had sliced Syracuse’s advantage to one at 83-82, but Orange guard Cole Swider made a crucial three to spark a 6-0 run to end the contest for Syracuse.
NC State freshman guard Terquavion Smith led the Pack with 25 points, making 7 of 15 threes. Seabron added 17 points, eight boards and five assists. Fifth-year senior guard Thomas Allen added 11 points off the bench, making 3 of 6 three pointers.
The complete stats can be seen in the box score pictured above.
NC State fell to 10-13 on the season and 3-9 in the ACC. The next scheduled game is Saturday at 3 p.m. against Notre Dame at PNC Arena. The game will be televised on ACC Network.
The Irish defeated NC State, 73-65, in South Bend on Jan. 26.
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