Horne’s Career Night Helps NC State Defeat UT Martin

RALEIGH, NC – The NC State men’s basketball team returned to PNC Arena for the first time in 25 days and was victorious as it defeated UT Martin, 81-67, Tuesday night.

With the win, NC State improves to 7-2 on the season while UT Martin falls to 6-5.

The Pack was led by DJ Horne with a season-high 22 points, while DJ Burns, Jr., and Dennis Parker, Jr., each contributed double-doubles in the win.

Horne shot 7-of-12 from the field and tied his career-high with six three-pointers made on his way to 22 points. He also passed out three assists and had zero turnovers in 31 minutes.

Burns scored 10 points while grabbing a career-high 12 rebounds. He also had a career best five blocks and passed out a team-high four assists.

Parker, Jr., scored 14 points while pulling down a career-high 10 rebounds. It was the first double-double of the young freshman’s career.

Jayden Taylor also reached double figures finishing with 13 points and a game-high three steals.

UT Martin hit seven of its first 10 shots to jump out to a 20-16 lead eight minutes into the game. The Pack turned up the defensive pressure over the next six minutes, going on a 19-4 run to take its first double-digit lead of the game.

The Skyhakws got back within six, 39-33, with a little over two minutes remaining in the first half, but another mini-spurt by the Pack sent NC State into halftime with a 46-35 lead.

UTM hung around in the second half, getting within five points early in the final frame, but NC State finally put the game out of reach with an 11-1 run midway through the second half to push its lead up to 21 points.

Jacob Crews and Jordan Sears led UT Martin with 20 points.

NC State hits the road again this weekend when it travels to San Antonio, Texas to face 12th-ranked Tennessee in a Basketball Hall of Fame event at Frost Bank Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET and will be televised on ESPN2.