NC State Basketball Rookie Stuns Demon Deacons in Raleigh
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Behind 15 points from senior Dontrez Styles and seven from freshman Paul McNeil in the first half, NC State basketball entered the break against the visiting Wake Forest Demon Deacons with a surprising 40-34 lead on Saturday afternoon.
RELATED: NC State Rookie Comes Out Hot in First Career Start
But Wake Forest battled back, enjoying a 61-56 advantage with 8:23 to play. It felt like Kevin Keatts' various Wolfpack lineups would, for the umpteenth time this year, fail to counter punches with consistent buckets of their own during critical junctures in the second half.
That wasn't the case. Back-to-back threes from Michael O'Connell and Jayden Taylor gave NC State a 62-61 lead with 7:30 to play, sparking an 18-2 run that stretched the margin to 11 at 74-63 with under two minutes left on the clock.
18-2 run!!
— NC State Men's Basketball (@PackMensBball) February 22, 2025
📺: ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/Mn68hT1CUX
And the Wolfpack (11-16, 4-12 ACC) never looked back, bouncing back from Wednesday night's 97-73 loss at UNC with an 85-73 victory over the Demon Deacons (19-8, 11-5 ACC) in the Lenovo Center.
Styles poured in 22 points on 9-for-17 shooting from the field, adding 10 rebounds, one assist, and one block before fouling out with 51.1 ticks remaining. McNeil outdid Styles, posting a career-high 24 to go along with his four boards, three dimes, and one steal.
NC State shot 29-for-58 from the field, 13-for-32 from long range, and 14-for-17 at the charity stripe.
Keatts and his Wolfpack, who have won two of their past three outings after enduring a nine-game losing streak, will now gear up for a trip north to face the Syracuse Orange (11-16, 5-11 ACC) at 7 p.m. ET Wednesday (ESPNU).
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Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of NC State Wolfpack on SI, Duke Blue Devils on SI, and North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining NC State Wolfpack on SI in 2024, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.
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