Gameday Live Blog/Open Thread: State at Syracuse

Live updates and analysis from tonight's key ACC matchup between the Wolfpack and the Orange at Carrier Dome

Say what you want against the upcoming games against Duke and Florida State, tonight's matchup against Syracuse at Carrier Dome might be the most important of the season to date for the NC State basketball team.

Because the Orange is ranked among the top 75 of the current NET rankings, this qualifies as a Quad 1 opportunity that would greatly enhance the Wolfpack's postseason resume if it can win.

Already, though, things aren't going State's way. 

Starting point guard Markell Johnson isn't in the starting lineup and won't start. There's o word yet on how long he'll be punished, but the longer he's on the bench, the more difficult it will be for State to run its offense against Syracuse's trademark 2-3 zone.

The good news for the Wolfpack is that it has won its last two meetings with the Orange, 

In the interest of full disclosure, I'm not in Syracuse. I'm at home watching on TV just like you. But check back here frequently for live updates and analysis as the game goes on:

FIRST HALF

State is off to a slow start offensively, but so is Syracuse. The Wolfpack is 2 of its first 6 from the floor and has turned it over twice early. ...

The Orange is up 6-4 at the first TV timeout. With Johnson coming into the game for the first time, it will be interesting to see how much better State's offense executes.

Also of note, Syracuse's leading scorer Elijah Hughes -- the East Carolina transfer who ranks second in the ACC at 19-plus points per game -- is out of the game and on the bench, looking as though something might be physically wrong. Not having to deal with him will definitely benefit the Wolfpack as this one goes on ...

Not only is the Wolfpack better on the offensive end with Johnson on the court, its defense is also improved. Johnson with a steal from Buddy Boeheim and a runout layup. To give State its first lead at 8-7. Any offense the Wolfpack can get out of transition is that one possession fewer it will have to go against that zone ...

Hughes has a jacket on and is apparently icing his groin. Looks like he won't be coming back tonight ...

Now Johnson with a great bounce pass in transition to Daniels for a dunk ... It's a 10-1 run that has put State up 12-7 and Boeheim wants timeout ...

The Wolfpack is putting the hammer down right now. It's done that before this season. The trick now is to keep it down and put this team away while it has the chance. ...

But a turnover and an offensive foul on Funderburk (his second) and State is giving a chance for the Orange to hang around ...

Syracuse is in a brutal shooting slump. It's just 5 of its first 20 and the only player that's been shooting well lately, Buddy Boeheim, isn't scoring either ...

And right on cue, State has hit one of its trademark lulls. Syracuse back into it, cutting the Wolfpack lead to 20-18 ... But Bryce stops the bleeding. That's his second 3-pointer tonight ...

Under 8 TV timeout: State 23, Syracuse 21

Danny Dixon getting some run after the TV timeout. Best thing he can do is stay out of the way and not foul on the defensive end ...

Game of runs. The Orange counters State's 10-1 spurt with a 14-6 run of its own to regain the lead at 25-23. ... 

Syracuse already has six offensive rebounds. State has none. The worst thing you can do against a team that can't make a jumper is give them second chance opportunities from around the basket. Wolfpack has to do a better job of boxing out and limiting the Orange to one shot ...

Good to see Pat Andree knock down a shot. He hasn't done a lot of that lately ...

Bryce makes his third 3-pointer, but not a lot of movement in the Wolfpack offense with Johnson on the bench. With two fouls and 3 1/2 minutes still to go in the half, it will be interesting to see how long Keatts decides to go without his point guard on the court ...

Under 4 TV timeout: State 29, Syracuse 28

Another Syracuse offensive rebound leads to two free throws ... Orange now has seven offensive rebounds, compared to just one for the Wolfpack ...

And now Bates fouls Dolezaj as he drives to the basket ... State should be killing this team without its top scorer. Instead, the Wolfpack is down by 4 with three minutes left in the half ...

That's three on Bates, by the way. Wolfpack is its own worst enemy right now ...

Another offensive rebound for the Orange. That's eight ...

Hellems with a mid-range jumper and a trey and State is back on top 34-33 ...

Chase Graham coming in for defense to keep Johnson from picking up a cheap third foul ...

Buddy Boeheim with a gift, fouling Bryce near midcourt with just two seconds left in the half ... C.J. converts one of the two free throws and the Wolfpack finishes the half on a 11-2 run to goes into halftime with a four-point lead ...

Halftime: State 39, Syracuse 35

SECOND HALF

State starts the half with four smalls and one big with Bates nursing three fouls. ....

Syracuse official reports that leading scorer Elijah Hughes won't return tonight. No word on what exactly his injury is ...

Wolfpack with a bad unforced turnover to start the half, throwing a bounce pass that hits the ground before it goes inbounds. But State still draws first blood as Funderburk hits two free throws on Sidibe's third foul ... 

Funderburk lazy going after a rebound, giving Syracuse yet another second chance opportunity ...

Now Funderburk can't handle a pass from Johnson and compounds the mistake by fouling Guerrier for an and-one. Maybe he's not fully recovered from the injury he suffered at Miami, but Funderburk is hurting the Wolfpack more than he's helping it right now ...

 It seems like very 50-50 ball is going Syracuse's way. That speaks to hustle more than luck .... same thing goes with second chance points. Syracuse best offense right now is missed shots ...

Offensive rebounds are 10-2 in favor of the Orange ...

And now Funderburk picks up his fourth foul. Bates has three. Danger zone inside for a Wolfpack team that's already getting killed on the glass ...

Under 16 TV timeout: Wolfpack 48, Orange 46

Devon Daniels comes off the floor limping. Daniels is one of only two players on the Wolfpack this season that hasn't missed a game. So I guess it's his turn .. Daniels leads State with 15 points tonight ...

Wolfpack playing in spurts, as if often does. This one isn't a good one. Syracuse on a 7-2 run to take a 58-56 lead. Keatts calls timeout ...

Daniels back in for the Wolfpack. That's good news. Even better news, Beverly hits a 3 to stop the bleeding ... 

Under 8 TV timeout: Syracuse 60, State 59

Bates and Funderburk both on the bench with four fouls. Keatts going uber small ... Hellems at 6-7 is the tallest guy on the court for the Wolfpack right now ...

Zero court awareness by Beverly there. Shot clock running down. Had a open three. Puts it on the floor instead and the clock runs out ... 

Wolfpack in big-time trouble ...

Under 8 TV timeout: Syracuse 64, State 59

Funderburk is the first big back in the game. We'll see how long he lasts ...

Syracuse's Edwards just got away with a foul and the Orange now rewarded with two free throws at the other end. State now down six and about to get taken out of this one ...

I don't think Daniels called glass there. But State will take it.  He's got 20 now and the deficit is back down to 1 ...

And now Daniels in transition to give State the lead back ... Boeheim wants time. Wolfpack on a 10-2 run to go up 69-68 with 4:16 left ...

Daniels has the Wolfpack's last seven points, 22 for the game, one shy of his season high, two shy of his career high ...

That's four on Syracuse's Dolezaj ... Bryce makes both free throws and has 16. ... He and Daniels re the only two State players in double figures ... 

C.J. Bryce ... dagger. 

State up 77-70 with 2:32 left ... He's 4 of 6 from distance and has 19 points ...

To Funderburk's credit, he's still out there. Bates hasn't been back in, so he's still available too ... 

If State makes its free throws, it wins this game. Hellems for two with 1:57 left ...

Misses the first ... makes the second. Six-point lead ...

They're reviewing that play, but it looks like they got it right on the court. Syracuse ball ... and yep, they did get it right ...

State should keep possession after this review, but it's having major trouble getting the ball inbounds right now ... Can't the Wolfpack do anything without it being the hard way?

State ball ...

Huge steal by Johnson ... Sidibe fouls out. Daniels misses the first. And now they're calling a double lane violation on Bryce and Dolezaj. Daniels doesn't get to take the second shot and the Wolfpack lead stays at four with 48.7 seconds left. Not the kind of mistake you'd expect a senior to make. Wasted opportunity there ...

Now Dolezaj walks. Syracuse trying to give this one away. Will Wolfpack take it?

Now Daniels makes one of two, tying his NC State high ... career high is 24 points, set against Washington when he was still playing for Utah in 2017 ... 

Dainels back to the line with 22.4 seconds left, State up 79-74. Make free throws and it's over ... But he misses again, twice. He's just two for his last 6 in the final minute ...

But the Wolfpack will survive, anyway. 

HUGE Quad 1 win for the Wolfpack, greatly enhancing its bubble chances.

Final: State 79, Syracuse 74