Consistent Defense, Scoring Leads NC State on Win Streak

RALEIGH, N.C. – The North Carolina State Wolfpack continued their win streak and hot start in the ACC on Wednesday, December 30, 2020, with a 79-76 tight victory over the Boston College Eagles. The Wolfpack defense forced 16 Boston College turnovers and had 46 points in the paint to help grab the win in a tight contest. 

The game started with N.C State hitting six of their first eight shots and jumping out to a 12-2 lead at the first media timeout.  Boston College responded with an eight-to-two run which included six points from transfer Rich Kelley.

At the half, the Wolfpack led the Eagles by ten with a score of 45-35. The Wolfpack were led by DJ Funderburk with seventeen points on 6 of 7 from the field and Jerico Hellems with eight points at the half. The Eagles were led by Makai Ashton-Langford and Jay Heath with seven points in the half. The key for the Wolfpack in the first half was forcing 10 first-half BC turnovers, shooting 18 of 32 (56. %) from the field, and getting 32 of their 45 first-half points in the paint.

Boston College came out strong to start the 2^nd half getting DJ Funderburk to pick up his 3^rd foul early on in the 2^nd half which was huge given that Manny Bates left the game early with an apparent knee injury. Bates returned to the bench in the 2^nd half but did not check back into the game.

Going into this matchup, the Wolfpack were ranked a-top the ACC and 5^th overall in the country in turnovers forced per game averaging 21.5 turnovers forced per game as well as 3^rd overall in the country with a +9.8 turnover margin against opponents and 4^th in the country in steals per game (11) and they kept that rhythm in this matchup with the Eagles.

In their previous matchup against the North Carolina Tar Heels, the Wolfpack defense forced 18 Tar Heel turnovers to knock off the 17^th ranked Tar Heels. Their tenacious defense flustered and frustrated the young Carolina backcourt as they were in their faces all game.

In this matchup against the Eagles, things were a little bit different. The Wolfpack turned the ball over 17 times compared to forcing 16 Eagle turnovers on defense. The Eagle defenders were all over the Wolfpack in the second half which led to a bunch of easy buckets for the Eagles to make the contest much closer than the Wolfpack expected.

The Wolfpack have three athletes ranked in the top 10 in the ACC for steals per game which include Devon Daniels ranked 4^th, Shakeel Moore ranked 7^th, and Braxton Beverley ranked 8^th. Alongside their physical and athletic guards, Manny Bates leads the ACC and the NCAA with 23 blocks and 3.8 blocks per game to anchor their defense. The red-shirt sophomore has been outstanding in the paint this season and has become a huge factor in the Wolfpack’s success.

Against the Eagles, the Wolfpack only managed one block shot on defense from Manny Bates. They were able to gather ten steals throughout the contest.

The Wolfpack offense has become something to discuss this season as they ranked 3^rd in the ACC in scoring averaging 74.6 points per game and 4^th in shooting percentage per game shooting 45.2% per game going into this matchup.

Devon Daniels leads the team with 17 points per game as he ranks 6^th in the conference. Other than Daniels, the rest of the team has been a balanced attack as they have three other players averaging double figures which include Cam Hayes with 10.3 points per game, Manny Bates with 10.8 points per game, and Jericole Hellems with 11.3 points per game. With the return of Funderburk and if this balanced attack keeps up all season, the Wolfpack could be dangerous this season within the ACC.

The Wolfpack in the contest was led by DJ Funderburk with 21 points and five rebounds in his first game back since December 3^rd and Jericole Hellems with 20 points and six rebounds but the biggest points came from reigning ACC freshman of the week Shakeel Moore knocking down a mid-range jumper with 26 seconds left to give the Wolfpack a 77-76 lead. The Wolfpack shot 28 of 54 (51.9%) in the contest. Boston College was led by Wynston Tabbs with 18 points and Jay Heath with 17 points.  The Eagles shot 27 of 57 from the field (47.4%) and 10 of 23 ( 43.5%) from three-point range. 

‘It felt good to get back out there tonight.” N.C State Center DJ Funderburk said following the win. When asked about how he felt where the team was going in the New Year Funderburk said, “We’re right where we need to be heading into 2021.” “We’re 2-0 in the conference.”

Next up for the Boston College Eagles will be a matchup with the Louisville Cardinals on January 2^nd at home. The NC State Wolfpack will look to continue their winning streak and hot start in the ACC as they head to Clemson, S.C to take on the Tigers on January 5^th. Head coach Kevin Keatts hopes the defensive intensity keeps going as they face a Tiger team coming off a big win against the 18^th ranked Florida State Seminoles.