NC State Wins 4th Straight, Beat Pitt In Raleigh

RALEIGH, NC – The NC State Wolfpack extended their winning streak to four games, as they took down the Pitt Panthers 65-62 in the PNC Arena, Sunday February 28th. With this win, the Pack complete the season sweep of the Panthers.

Throughout the season, the Pack defense has been the key in their victories. When NC State forces an opponent into 15 or more turnovers this season the Pack is 9-1 but just 2-8 when they force less than 15. The Pack are also 9-0 when it scores 19 or more points off opponent turnovers. 

The game got started with the Pack and the Panthers going back and forth before Pitt went cold, not scoring for over three minutes. Over this span the Wolfpack went on a 7-0 run to take a 9-4 lead at the first media timeout.

Both teams struggled shooting over the next four minutes, as the teams combined to shoot 3-15, with the Wolfpack clinging to a 12-11 lead with 10:50 remaining in the first half.

Jericole Hellems was a force the first 13 minutes, as he scored seven points, grabbed five rebounds and dished out two assists. The Pack defense was making things difficult for ACC player of the year candidate Justin Champagnie, only allowing him to score two points on 1-of-7 seven shooting early in the game.

The rest of the first half was all Wolfpack as they took a ten-point, 31-21 halftime lead. Jericole Hellems led the way for NC State with eight points, eight rebounds and three assists. It was a frustrating first half for Panthers star big-man Justin Champagnie as he only scored five points on 2-10 shooting.

NC State held the Panthers to just 7-30 (23.3%) shooting in the first half and was able to force seven first half turnovers. The Pack scored 14 of their 31 first half points in the paint and scored ten points off of the seven turnovers.

Pittsburgh came out strong to start the second half, as they cut the deficit down to four, outscoring NC State 8-2 in the first three minutes. NC State responded with three straight buckets, as Hellems and Braxton Beverly each knocked down three-pointers, to bring the lead back to ten with 14:48 to play in the game.

The Pack extended the lead out to 12, after Champagnie picked up his 2nd technical foul. That technical foul seemed to spark something for the Panthers, as they outscored NC State 8-2 in the next few minutes to cut the deficit to six with 11:43 to play. 

Pittsburgh cut the deficit down to three as the three-pointers started to fall. DJ Funderburk threw down a massive dunk to bring the lead back to five with 7:37 remaining. 

Pittsburgh was ready to tie the game before Manny Bates had a huge rejection that lead to a basket on the other end for NC State. This bumped the lead to five with under four minutes to play. In the words of the ACC Network announcers, “Its just Manny, being Manny.” 

Pittsburgh had a chance to cut the deficit down to two, but missed two free-throws with a minute to play, which led to two free-throw makes from the Pack to increase the lead to six with 54 seconds left.

Pittsburgh got two free-throws from Femi Odukale with 13 seconds remaining to cut the deficit to three, but with the Wolfpack continued knocking down some late game free-throws, that was the closest the Panthers could get.

The Wolfpack were led by Jericole Hellems with 15 points and ten rebounds, Braxton Beverly with 14 points and DJ Funderburk with 13 points. Manny Bates had an impressive game defensively, as he blocked six Pittsburgh shots. Pitt was led by Femi Oduakle with 18 points, Justin Champagnie with another double-double, with 15 points and 12 rebounds and Terrell Brown with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Both teams struggled shooting from the field, as the Pack were 18-36 (39.1%) and the Panthers were 20-57 (35.1%). The Wolfpack defense was frustrating the Panthers the entire game, as they forced 14 turnovers, blocked seven shots and generated five steals. 

“What a good grinded out game. I thought it was a really good test for us,” Wolfpack coach Kevin Keatts said, following the win. 

The Wolfpack, (12-9, 8-8 ACC) will look to add to the winning streak, as they head to South Bend, Indiana for a matchup with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Wednesday March 3^rd. Tip-off is set for 7 pm on the ACC Network.