NC State Travels To Clemson For Their Atlantic Coast Conference Opener

Kevin Keatts who is in his first season in Raleigh will get his first taste of Atlantic Coast Conference play Saturday  as NC State travels to South Carolina to take on Clemson in their conference opener.

NC State comes into their Atlantic Coast Conference opener  with a record of 10-3 haven won their non -conference finale on Friday December 22nd against Jacksonville.

NC State men's basketball hit a program-record 19 three-pointers Friday night en route to a PNC Arena record 116 points as the Wolfpack wrapped up non-conference play with a 52-point win over the Jacksonville Dolphins. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/12/22/mens-basketball-Record-Breaking-Performance-Leads-Pack-to-Victory-Over-Jacksonville.aspx?path=mbball

The previous NC State record for three-pointers made was 18, set by the Pack on Feb. 10, 1992 against Florida State. Tonight's 19 made treys also ties as the most by a Power 5 school this season. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/12/22/mens-basketball-Record-Breaking-Performance-Leads-Pack-to-Victory-Over-Jacksonville.aspx?path=mbball

The Pack eclipsed the previous PNC Arena team scoring record of 113 points. Tonight's 116 points scored are the most for NC State since defeating UNC Asheville, 120-71, on Dec. 20, 1995. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/12/22/mens-basketball-Record-Breaking-Performance-Leads-Pack-to-Victory-Over-Jacksonville.aspx?path=mbball

NC State has scored in triple digits three times this season, the most since accomplishing the feat four times in 1995-96. The Wolfpack defeated VMI, 102-67, and South Carolina State, 103-71, earlier this season."according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/12/22/mens-basketball-Record-Breaking-Performance-Leads-Pack-to-Victory-Over-Jacksonville.aspx?path=mbball

Six Wolfpack players scored in double figures Friday night, led by Allerik Freeman who dropped a career-high 25 points in the win. The Charlotte, N.C. native knocked down 7-of-11 three pointers in 27 minutes of action. His seven three-pointers are the most by an ACC player this season. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/12/22/mens-basketball-Record-Breaking-Performance-Leads-Pack-to-Victory-Over-Jacksonville.aspx?path=mbball

Braxton Beverly dished out a career-high 11 assists on the way to his first career double-double, as the freshman guard scored 15 points on 5-of-9 three-point shooting. Sam Hunt was the Pack's second-leading scorer, posting a season-best 20 points while making 6-of-9 three pointers on the night. "according tohttp://www.gopack.com/news/2017/12/22/mens-basketball-Record-Breaking-Performance-Leads-Pack-to-Victory-Over-Jacksonville.aspx?path=mbball

Torin Dorn, Abdul-Malik Abu, and Omer Yurtseven were all one rebound shy of a double-double, as all three players grabbed a team-high nine rebounds in the win. Dorn posted 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting, while Yurtseven went 5-of-6 from the field for 13 points. Abu logged double-digit scoring for the second time this season with 11 points in the win. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/12/22/mens-basketball-Record-Breaking-Performance-Leads-Pack-to-Victory-Over-Jacksonville.aspx?path=mbball

Up 11 points early in the game, NC State exploded on a 27-4 run to take a commanding 60-24 lead in the first half. The Pack took its largest lead of the game (+54) with 3:43 remaining in the second half. The 52-point win was the second-highest margin of victory in PNC Arena history, and the highest for NC State since Dec. 1, 1998 vs. Army (+61, 94-33). "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/12/22/mens-basketball-Record-Breaking-Performance-Leads-Pack-to-Victory-Over-Jacksonville.aspx?path=mbball

As for Clemson they come into their Atlantic Coast Conference opener with a record of 11-1 haven won their last non- conference game against Louisana Lafayette.

Clemson University men’s basketball’s stout defense held Louisiana-Lafayette to its lowest point total of the season and lowest shooting percentage of the season, coupled with Donte Grantham's’s fourth double-double of his career - Clemson rolled past ULL, 89-60. "according to http://www.clemsontigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=657841&SPID=103715&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=28500&ATCLID=211690680

The 89 points were the most by the Tigers (11-1) this season. Clemson also made a season-high 11 3-pointers which were scored by eight different players, tying the program record. The Tigers also had eight players hit threes against Virginia on Jan. 22, 1983 and against Presbyterian on Nov. 13, 2009. "according to http://www.clemsontigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=657841&SPID=103715&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=28500&ATCLID=211690680

With Grantham’s 17 points and 10 rebounds, the senior also surpassed 1,000 career points to become the 39th player in Clemson history to achieve that feat. "according to http://www.clemsontigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=657841&SPID=103715&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=28500&ATCLID=211690680

Shelton Mitchell and Elijah Mitchell both posted 15 points, while Mitchell dished out a game-high six assists and Thomas grabbed five boards. David Skara netted double-figures in just his third game as a Tiger with 11 points. "according to http://www.clemsontigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=657841&SPID=103715&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=28500&ATCLID=211690680

The Tigers started to pull away from the Ragin’ Cajuns (10-3) late in the opening stanza. Clemson built a 15-point advantage and finished with that same lead following back-to-back threes from Grantham and Skara to close the half. "according to http://www.clemsontigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=657841&SPID=103715&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=28500&ATCLID=211690680

Clemson flexed its defensive muscle, as it has all season long, limiting the Cajuns to 25.8 percent shooting in the second half and outscoring them 46-32 for the 29-point victory. "according tohttp://www.clemsontigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=657841&SPID=103715&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=28500&ATCLID=211690680

Tip-off is set for 4:00pm from Little John Coliseuim. The game will be televised on the Regional Sports Network. "according to http://www.gopack.com/schedule.aspx?path=mbball