NC State Tops Penn State In The Boardwalk Classic

On Saturday NC State who is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference defeated Penn State who is a member of the Big Ten Conference in the Boardwalk Classic.

The NC State men's basketball team pulled away from Penn State in the final 10 minutes of the game Saturday afternoon to defeat the Nittany Lions, 89-78, at Boardwalk Hall. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-pack-pulls-away-from-penn-state-to-improve-to-9-1.aspx

With the win NC State improves to 9-1 on the season and is off to the best start for a Pack team since the 2005-06 squad started the season with a 12-1 record. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-pack-pulls-away-from-penn-state-to-improve-to-9-1.aspx

The Pack led for the majority of the game, but found itself in a 58-58 tie with 11:47 to play after two Penn State free throws. On its next possession, CJ Bryce hit one free throw, missed the second, but DJ Funderburk pulled the rebound down and laid the ball back in the basket to give NC State a three-point lead. The Pack got a stop on defense and then Funderburk hit a three-pointer on the next trip down to double NC State's lead to six. After a couple of empty possessions for both teams, Penn State finally ended its three-minute scoring drought with a lay-up to cut the deficit to four, 64-60, with 8:58 to go. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-pack-pulls-away-from-penn-state-to-improve-to-9-1.aspx

NC State's lead was 68-64 with 7:35 to go when the Pack clinched the game with an 12-0 run. NC State scored on six consecutive possessions during the run while the Nittany Lions had seven consecutive empty possessions. Beverly hit a three-pointer to give the Pack its first double-digit lead of the game at 12, 76-64, with 4:56 to go and on NC State's next possession Beverly had an old-fashion three-point play to give the Pack a 15 point lead, 79-64, with 4:17 to play. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-pack-pulls-away-from-penn-state-to-improve-to-9-1.aspx

Penn State would cut the lead to nine with 23 seconds to play, but two Bryce free throws closed the scoring. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-pack-pulls-away-from-penn-state-to-improve-to-9-1.aspx

Beverly led five NC State players in double figures with a season-high 18 points. Dorn (15 points), Bryce (13 points), Markell Johnson (13 points), Funderburk (12 points) also reached double figures for the Pack. Wyatt Walker added nine points and a season-best eight rebounds. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-pack-pulls-away-from-penn-state-to-improve-to-9-1.aspx

NC State finished the game shooting a season-best 60.7 percent from the field. The Pack's starting lineup of Beverly, Brice, Daniels, Dorn and Walker combined to shoot 24-of-38 (63.2%) from the field. The Nittany Lions shot 36.7 percent from the field in the second half and finished the game shooting 42.2 percent from the field. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-pack-pulls-away-from-penn-state-to-improve-to-9-1.aspx

The Pack outrebounded Penn State, 40-29, and has now outrebounded its opponent in eight of 10 games. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-pack-pulls-away-from-penn-state-to-improve-to-9-1.aspx

NC State took a three-point lead into halftime, 40-37, after shooting 53.1 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes. Penn State jumped out to a 7-2 lead less than three minutes into the game, but the Pack responded with an 11-2 run to take the lead. Dorn's jumper at the 14:06 mark gave NC State its first lead of the game, 11-9, and NC State would lead the rest of the first half. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-pack-pulls-away-from-penn-state-to-improve-to-9-1.aspx

NC State will return to the hardwood Wednesday when they host Auburn who is a member of the Southeastern Conference.

Tip-off is set for 7:00pm from PNC Arena. The game will be televised on ESPN2.