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The NC State basketball team is a heavy underdog against sixth-ranked Duke in the first of two straight top-10 matchups at PNC Arena.

Wednesday's game against the Blue Devils and Saturday's game against No. 8 Florida State represent the Wolfpack's last best chance at playing its way back into the NCAA tournament conversation after Sunday's loss at Boston College.

In order to pull off the upset, coach Kevin Keatts' team is going to have to shoot well, something it did well in recent road wins against Miami and Syracuse (making better than 50% overall and 40% or better from 3-point range in both), but didn't in Sunday's loss at Boston College when it 2 for 19 from beyond the arc.

It also has to force turnovers to create offense from defense and reverse a trend that has seen State have three of its five highest turnovers performances in its last three games.

Another plus would be getting Duke's star big man Vernon Carey into foul trouble, something he's had a problem with this season. The Blue Devils aren't nearly as good a rebounding team without him on the floor and he's their leading scorer. Having him on the bench will aid the Wolfpack inside duo of D.J. Funderburk and Manny Bates considerably.

If all else fails, State can always fall back on the "Law of the Wolf."

It's the theory that says the Wolfpack usually accomplishes the least when the expectations are the highest and accomplishes the most when expectations are low. Even though State has won five of its last seven meetings at PNC against Duke (see above photo),  including two years ago for Keatts' first ACC win, expectations are clearly low.

It's almost game time, so make sure to check back here throughout the night for live updates and analysis.

PREGAME

Here are some links to our coverage leading up to the game to keep you busy before tipoff:

Wolfpack Looks to Repeat History Against Duke at PNC

Wolfpack Tipoff: Game 26 vs. Duke

It's Now or Never Time For Wolfpack's NCAA Hopes

Duke's Stanley Will Return For State Game on Wednesday

Usual starting lineup for State: Markell Johnson, Devon Daniels, C.J. Bryce, D.J. Funderburk and Manny Bates. Pat Andree is not in uniform, presumably still bothered by the foot injury he suffered against Clemson nearly a month ago.

Duke counters with Tre Jones, Cassius Stanley, Jordan Goldwire, Matthew Hurt and Vernon Carey ...

Mike Eades, John Gaffney and Brian O'Connell are the men in stripes ...

FIRST HALF

Daniels with a floater off a give from Bates and we're underway here at the big ATM ...

Bates establishing himself early with an assist, a rebound and a block in the opening minute ...

Johnson takes Jones one-on-one, puts a spin move on him in the lane and scores off the glass. State up 6-1 early. Good start for the Wolfpack. But starting hasn't been the problem this season. Finishing has ... 

State is 5 for its first 7 from the floor and hasn't attempted a 3 yet. Duke has missed its first five field goal attempts ...

Daniels will go to the line for two when play resumes. So far, so good ...

First TV timeout: State 10, Duke 2

Daniels has 10 of the Wolfpack's first 16 points ...

State has cooled off. It's now 7 of 16 while Duke has begun to show signs of life ...

Under 12 TV timeout: Wolfpack 16, Blue Devils 9

Daniels now has 12 of State's first 18 points … State cooling off from the floor, but still up by 9 with 10:38 left in the half ...

Duke might want to try someone else on Daniels, because he's toasting Tre Jones right now ... And Jones is one of the best on-ball defenders in the country  ... Daniels has 14 of State's 20  ...

Devon Daniels goes to the basket between two Duke defenders

Devon Daniels goes to the basket between two Duke defenders

Two fouls on Bates ...

Johnson with back-to-back treys, the second one on a sick stepback, to up the Wolfpack lead to 28-13 ... 

Under 8 TV timeout: Stae 28, Duke 15 ...

Danny Dixon into the game. With Bates in foul trouble, this is probably a move to get Funderburk a couple extra possessions rest coming out of the TV timeout ...

Dixon immediately commits a foul ....

And now Javin Delaurier has some words with Daniels after the two got tied up on a rebound ... and Delaurier was called for a foul ...

Daniels misses the second of two free throws, but Bryce puts back the rebound ... 31-17 State ...

Heat check jumper by Daniels ... and it's a brick.

Funderburk back in. Dixon did a nice job while he was in there ...

Hellems fouls Delaurier as he scores on a rebound. He'll go to the line when play resumes ...

Under-4 TV timeout: Wolfpack 36, Blue Devils 25

Rebounding has been a bugaboo all season for the Wolfpack and it's not helping it again tonight. Ten of Duke's 25 points have come off the Blue Devils' nine offensive rebounds  ... 

Daniels makes one of two and he's got 16 now. His career high is 24 and his Wolfpack high is 23 ... 

Johnson got pushed as he went up for a shot .... no call. Eades calls Jones for double dribble at the other end. Makeup call?

Daniels with a steal and layup and he's got 18 ... K wants timeout ... Wolfpack leads 38-25 with 1:57 left in the half ...

Keatts calls his use it or lose it timeout and it results in a sweet alley oop from Johnson to Funderburk ... 41-27 

Jones gets to the rim and scores with three seconds left ... but that only sets the stage for Markell time! His third halfcourt or longer shot this season, banks it in to send State into halftime with a 15-point lead.

Halftime: State 44, Duke 29

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SECOND HALF

Second half is just underway and Bates commits his third foul ... he comes off the court and goes right to the locker room. But he's back quickly. Not sure what that was all about ...

And in the meantime, Funderburk converts a three-point play to up the Wolfpack adcvntage to 47-29 ... 

Johnson with a teardrop in the lane and the lead is up to 20 ... Johnson has 17 ... 

That doesn't count as a buzzer-beater, but Johnson just hit one with one second left on the shot clock. Now a turnover and a Hellems layup makes it 54-31 Wolfpack with just over 16 minutes to go ...

Now Funderburk with a three ... EVERYTHING going right for State thus far ...

Crowd gives the Wolfpack a standing ovation as it heads to the bench ...

Under 16 TV timeout: State 57, Duke 34

Funderburk got clipped in the face before the blocked shot. Officals at the monitor looking at it .... this one seems pretty cut and dried. Funderburk should be going to the line and State should get the ball back on a Flagrant 1 ...

He is and he makes them both. But State can't convert the ensuing possession. 59-40 with 13 1/2 left ...

The Wolfpack has missed its last six shots and is scoreless over the past 3:21. Keatts wants timeout. Duke back to within 14 at 59-45 with plenty of time left ...

Scott Wood in the house tonight. He promised on Twitter earlier today to help storm the court after this one if the Wolfpack wins ...

Make that 0 for the last 7... Carey with a bucket on Bates' fourth foul and it's a 12 point game ...

Funderburk defending Vernon Carey

Under 12: State 59, Duke 47

Beverly, of all people, finally stops the bleeding. But Carey counters with a three-point play that fouls Bates out with over 11 minutes remaining ... lead down to 11 ...

Johnson with a huge 3 from the top of the circle to get the crowd back into it. 64050 ... Johnson has 23 ...

A lot of Duke fans here tonight, but the Wolfpack contingent has gotten loud again ... You have the feeling this one is going to get close before it's over ...

Funderburk with a rebound of a Johnson 3-point miss and a foul ... Wolfpack trying to regain control of this one with 8;30 left ... lead back up to 15

Duke is now in the double bonus ...

Under 8 TV timeout: State 69, Duke 52

Daniels gets his first points of the second half on an aggressive drive to the rim. He's got 18 and the lead is back up to 17 ...

Funderburk tipin off a Johnson drive and its 73-54 with Daniels going to the line. 5:16 left and this crowd is starting to smell it ...

Daniels make both, has 20 and the lead is 75-54 ... biggest lead of the game

Four fouls on Funderburk. Bates has already fouled out. Five minutes is a long time to go with Danny Dixon in there against Duke. ... It might not matter. Bryce with a three-point play and the lead is now 22, again, the biggest of the night ...

Wolfpack making free throws ... a very good sign ...

Daniels. Splash. Three-point dagger with 3:22 left. to extend the lead to 83-60. Daniels has 25. New career high. Old high was 24 while still at Utah. His previous State high was 23

Final TV timeout: State 83, Duke 60

My only question is, where has THIS State team been all year???

Johnson with a steal and a dunk for HIS career high … he's got 28 … and nine rebounds. Now Funderburk with an exclamation point dunk. State by 28 ... that is NOT A TYPO. 

Walkons in ... can you believe this?

Law of the Wolf, my friends. It's uncanny. And it never ceases to amaze.

State has now won six of its last eight against Duke at PNC Arena and the Wolfpack is now firmly back in the NCAA tournament conversation.

Cue the court rush ...

Final ... State 88, Duke 66

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