Daniels’ Career-High Leads NC State Past Alcorn State

RALEIGH, N.C. – The NC State Wolfpack had a slow first half for the second consecutive game.

They led the Alcorn State Braves 44-32 at halftime. But another second-half explosion gave them a 25-point lead late in the second and they defeated the Braves 87-64 at Reynolds Coliseum behind a 23-point, career-high scoring display by redshirt junior guard Devon Daniels who came off the bench.

“One of our keys to win the game was attack the zone,” Daniels said, “get out in transition and try to beat the zone down the floor. And we executed that pretty well.”

Wolfpack head coach Kevin Keatts believed playing three games in a week led to his team’s slow start in the first half.

“We got going in the second half.” Keatts said.” We had a great spurt where we made some shots. We shot the ball well in the second half behind the 3-point line. We settled a little bit in the first half where I thought we should’ve drove it and got some easy baskets. With that being said, I’m happy with our win and like where we’re at and we’re moving in the right direction.”

Worth Noting

After shooting 1-3 in the first half, Wolfpack graduate forward Pat Andree, shot 50 percent from the floor in the second and finished with 9 points. Andree has struggled in prior games in the second after starting off hot.

What’s Next

The Braves (1-4) return to Mississippi and plays Our Lady of the Lake, at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 21.

NC State (4-1, ACC 0-1) plays Saturday, Nov. 23, at PNC Arena at 1 p.m. against The University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

“Tomorrow, I told everybody in the locker room, ‘to stay away from basketball a little bit’,” Keatts said. “… Everybody has instructions for those guys who have to get in the gym which is guys like C.J. Bryce, Devon Daniels, and Braxton Beverly. I told them, ‘If they come in the gym, spend about 30 minutes getting some shots up – then get some rest.”

(Image courtesy of Landon Bost)