Hellems Effort Not Enough, State Falls To Cuse

SYRACUSE, NY – Despite a career-high from Jericole Hellems and a monster game from  Manny Bates, the NC State Wolfpack fell short on the road to the Syracuse Orange 76-73.

This was the first game for the Wolfpack since the news came out that senior Devon Daniels would miss the remainder of the season with a torn ACL. Daniels was the team leader in points (16.5), assists (3.1), and steals (1.7)

Coming into this contest, the Wolfpack leads the ACC in steals (9.42), turnovers forced (17.58), and turnover margin (+4.75). The Wolfpack have six players averaging at least one steal per game and has three players in the top-10 of the ACC in steals. As the Wolfpack leads the ACC in steals, the Orange rank just two spots behind them, averaging 8.71 steals per game.

The Wolfpack came out firing to start the game hitting on five of their first six shots as Manny Bates and Jericole Hellems combined for eight of the first 11 for the Wolfpack. The Orange matched the Wolfpack, as they were 3-of-5 from three-point territory to tie the score up at 11 at the first media timeout.

The hot start continued after the break, as the question in the arena was, “where is the defense,” as the teams through the first five and half minutes combined for 11 baskets on 11 assists. Going into the under 12-minute timeout of the first half, Syracuse was able to jump out to a three-point, 20-17 lead.

As the Orange went cold offensively, the Wolfpack capitalized going on a 9-0 run over two minutes to jump out to a 34-26 lead with 5:53 remaining in the first half.

At the half, the Wolfpack were able to jump out to a nine-point, 47-38 lead. Manny Bates nearly had a double-double in the first half as he scored 12 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Jericole Hellems also produced a huge first half, as he scored ten points, grabbed three rebounds, and dished out four assists. Syracuse was led by Alan Griffen with ten first-half points.

Some major keys to success for the Wolfpack at the half were outscoring the Orange 20-14 in the paint and being able to generate 12 bench points, with seven coming from Dereon Seabron. NC State was also able to force eight turnovers by the Orange.

Manny Bates grabbed his tenth rebound two minutes into the second half, to secure his first double-double of the season and second in his career.

Syracuse came out strong out of the locker room, as they cut the nine-point halftime lead down to just one, five and a half minutes into the second half. NC State was just three of their first ten shots to start the half as the Orange were able to tie the game at 54 with 11:52 remaining in the game on an Alan Griffen jumper.

Syracuse jumped out to their first lead since the 7:27 mark in the first half with a basket from Quincy Guerrier to take a 58-56 lead with 10:29 remaining in the game.

It was a one-point game between both teams, for the next three and a half minutes, as the Wolfpack held a 63-62 lead, with 6:57 remaining in the game. Buddy Boheim came down the next possession and drilled a three-pointer to take a 65-63 lead. A minute later, Cam Hayes rolled in a layup to tie the game at 65 with 5:32 remaining in the game.

Syracuse went on a 5-0 run to force NC State coach Kevin Keatts to call a  time-out, as the score was 70-65, with 4:14 remaining. 

The Wolfpack cut the lead down to one as Dereon Seabron rolled in a layup with 1:30 remaining in the game, but that was the closest the Wolfpack could get, as the Orange knocked down late game free-throws to secure the win. 

The Orange were led by Allan Griffen with 19 points. The Wolfpack were led by Jericole Hellems with a career high 24  points and nine rebounds and Manny Bates with 17 points and 14 rebounds. 

“To go through all the adversity we had to go through the last four, five days and come out and give us a chance to win in the ACC, I’m really proud of our guys.,” Head Coach Kevin Keatts said, following the game.

The Wolfpack, (7-6, 3-5 ACC) looks to bounce back Wednesday, February 3^rd, as they host the Virginia Cavaliers, at the PNC Arena, in Raleigh, North Carolina. Tip-off is set for 9 pm on the ACC Network.