Johnson’s Triple-Double Leads NC State to Victory

RALEIGH, N.C. – NC State senior guard Markell Johnson posted his first career triple-double to lead the Pack to an 83-63 win over The Citadel Sunday evening inside PNC Arena.

With the win, the Pack improved to 9-3 on the season, while the Bulldogs dropped to 6-6.

Johnson scored 11 points, grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds and passed out to 10 assists to register the first triple-double of his career. He is the third player and the fourth triple-double in NC State history, joining Julius Hodge and former teammate Dennis Smith, Jr. (two times) in recording a triple-double. Johnson’s triple-double is the 33rd in ACC history and he becomes the 27th player in conference history to post a triple-double.

Johnson is the only ACC player to post a triple-double this season.

Five NC State players finished in double figures scoring, led by Devon Daniels with 18 points on 7-of-14 shooting. Daniels also led the Pack with three steals.

D.J. Funderburk added 14 points, while C.J. Bryce and Jericole Hellems both scored 13.

NC State jumped out to a 7-0 lead and after The Citadel cut the lead to 9-5, the Pack responded with a 13-0 run to take a 22-5 lead with 10:37 left in the first half.

The Citadel never got within single digits the rest of the game.

The Pack finished with a season-high 50 rebounds as seven different players grabbed at least five rebounds.

The Citadel attempted an NC State opponent record and PNC Arena 45 three-point attempts. The Bulldogs hit 14 of them.

NC State returns to action Sunday, Dec. 29 when it closes out the non-conference portion of its schedule with a visit from Appalachian State.