NC State Knocks Off 19th Ranked Clemson In Raleigh

NC State who is led by first year head coach Kevin Keatts  knocked off their second ranked opponent Thursday in Raleigh winning by a point over Clemson.

A career night from Omer Yurtseven combined with a season best display of ball security buoyed the NC State men's basketball team to a 78-77 victory over No. 19 Clemson Thursday night inside PNC Arena. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2018/1/11/mens-basketball-yurtseven-has-career-night-as-nc-state-upends-no-19-clemson-78-77.aspx
 
The win marked the first time since 2007 the Wolfpack won back-to-back ACC regular season games against ranked opponents. It defeated No. 16 Virginia 70-59 on Jan. 31, 2007 and No. 3 UNC-Chapel Hill 83-59 on Feb. 3, 2007. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2018/1/11/mens-basketball-yurtseven-has-career-night-as-nc-state-upends-no-19-clemson-78-77.aspx
 
NC State also remains undefeated against ranked teams this season, as it defeated No. 2 Arizona 90-64 on Nov. 22, 2017 and No. 2 Duke 96-85 in its previous outing on Jan. 6. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2018/1/11/mens-basketball-yurtseven-has-career-night-as-nc-state-upends-no-19-clemson-78-77.aspx

Yurtseven had career highs in points, field goals made and three-pointers made; he finished with 29 points on 12-of-18 shooting including 5-of-6 from three. His 29 points is the most by a Wolfpack player this season. Allerik Freeman added 14 points and also tied his career high in assists for the second straight game with five. Braxton Beverly logged five assists while Lennard Freeman led the team in rebounds with six. Lavar Batts, Jr., continued to provide energy off the bench, finishing with a career-high five steals while Torin Dorn contributed three to tie his career high. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2018/1/11/mens-basketball-yurtseven-has-career-night-as-nc-state-upends-no-19-clemson-78-77.aspx

The Wolfpack took care of the ball as it committed a season low four turnovers while forcing the Tigers to cough up the ball 17 times, resulting in 20 points off turnovers compared to just five for Clemson. NC State's four turnovers was the fewest for the squad since Feb. 21, 2012, when the Pack turned it over just four times against UNC-Chapel Hill."according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2018/1/11/mens-basketball-yurtseven-has-career-night-as-nc-state-upends-no-19-clemson-78-77.aspx
 
Allerik Freeman set the tone for NC State early, knocking down his first three-point attempt as he scored five unanswered points to give NC State a 5-0 lead two minutes into the game. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2018/1/11/mens-basketball-yurtseven-has-career-night-as-nc-state-upends-no-19-clemson-78-77.aspx
 
Freeman put the Wolfpack in the drivers' seat early, but it was Yurtseven who then proceeded to torment the Tigers both inside and out; he knocked down a three from the top of the arc with 13:13 on the clock followed by a jumper from the short corner with 12:36 remaining in the half. He then turned over his right shoulder for a left-handed jump hook with 11:00 left to play followed by another three-pointer with 10:17 remaining. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2018/1/11/mens-basketball-yurtseven-has-career-night-as-nc-state-upends-no-19-clemson-78-77.aspx
 
While the Tigers narrowed the Wolfpack's lead to 36-35 with 2:18 left in the half, three-pointers from Yurtseven and Beverly inside the final 2:30 of the half ensured NC State went into halftime with a 41-38 advantage. Yurtseven's dominant first half included 15 points on an efficient 7-of-8 shooting while the Wolfpack also shot an efficient 55 percent from three."according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2018/1/11/mens-basketball-yurtseven-has-career-night-as-nc-state-upends-no-19-clemson-78-77.aspx
 
Clemson came out of halftime and made it a one point game with 18:36 left to play but NC State responded by playing the type of lock down defense emphasized by head coach Kevin Keatts. For a 5:39 stretch, from the time there was 13:43 on the clock to when there was 8:12 left in the half, the Wolfpack held the Tigers scoreless and went on a 10-0 run that extended the lead to 61-50. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2018/1/11/mens-basketball-yurtseven-has-career-night-as-nc-state-upends-no-19-clemson-78-77.aspx
 
The Tigers battled back in what was a dramatic final 1:30 of the contest. With NC State holding a 74-71 lead, Dorn stole the ball and found Yurtseven for an emphatic dunk with 25 seconds left to put NC State up 76-71. Despite the Wolfpack then holding a 78-75 lead with 0:01 second remaining, Clemson's Gabe DeVoe was fouled on a three-point attempt. He converted on the first two attempts to narrow the NC State lead to one. The Wolfpack took its final timeout prior to the third free throw and along with the help of an electric NC State crowd, Devoe missed the final free throw to ensure the NC State victory over the No. 19 team in the nation. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2018/1/11/mens-basketball-yurtseven-has-career-night-as-nc-state-upends-no-19-clemson-78-77.aspx

NC State will return to the road as they visit Charlottesville where they will take on Virginia Sunday.

Tip-off is set for 6:00pm from John Paul Jones Arena. "according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/sched/va-m-baskbl-sched.html The game will be televised on ESPNU. "according to http://www.gopack.com/schedule.aspx?path=mbball

It marks the first time since 2014-2015 NC State will play three consecutive ranked teams. The Pack played No. 3 Virginia on Jan. 7, 2015, No. 2 Duke on Jan. 11 and No. 15 UNC-Chapel Hill on Jan. 14. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2018/1/11/mens-basketball-yurtseven-has-career-night-as-nc-state-upends-no-19-clemson-78-77.aspx