NC State Bounces Back With Win Over Pittsburgh

After losing to a tobacco road rival earlier in the week NC State bounced back with a win over Pittsburgh.

The 15th ranked NC State Wolfpack used a second half comeback to down the visiting Pittsburgh Panthers, 86-80, Saturday afternoon at PNC Arena. The Wolfpack hit 10 of its final 12 shots in the game to move to 14-2 overall and 2-1 in conference play. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/1/12/mens-basketball-pack-uses-second-half-comeback-to-tame-panthers-86-80.aspx
 
A pair of Wolfpack reserves had the top games of their Wolfpack careers, as DJ Funderburk posted career-highs in points (18), rebounds (9) and minutes (34), while Eric Lockett had a season-high 17 points. Devon Daniels also contributed 17 points off the bench. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/1/12/mens-basketball-pack-uses-second-half-comeback-to-tame-panthers-86-80.aspx
 
NC State's bench outscored Pitt 54-9, after also outscoring UNC-CH's 43-9 in the Pack's previous game. For the season, NC State's bench has now scored 593 points in 16 games and has outscored the opponents bench by 305 points. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/1/12/mens-basketball-pack-uses-second-half-comeback-to-tame-panthers-86-80.aspx
 
The Pack had four players in double figures for the 12th time this season. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/1/12/mens-basketball-pack-uses-second-half-comeback-to-tame-panthers-86-80.aspx

After being outrebounded by 18 in the outing against the Tar Heels on Tuesday, NC State had a season-best 21 offensive rebounds Saturday afternoon and outrebounded the Panthers by 10. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/1/12/mens-basketball-pack-uses-second-half-comeback-to-tame-panthers-86-80.aspx
 
NC State has now won seven of the eight meetings against Pittsburgh since the Panthers joined the ACC ahead of the 2013-14 season. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/1/12/mens-basketball-pack-uses-second-half-comeback-to-tame-panthers-86-80.aspx

NC State opened the game hitting six of its first eight shots and held a 15-8 lead at the first media timeout. The Pack was up nine points at 35-26 with 6:23 to go in the first half, but Pitt closed the opening frame on a 14-6 run. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/1/12/mens-basketball-pack-uses-second-half-comeback-to-tame-panthers-86-80.aspx
 
Pitt used a 7-0 run and took its first lead of the game with 1:51 left in the first half at 40-39, but a basket by Lockett in the final minute of the half gave NC State the 41-40 halftime lead. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/1/12/mens-basketball-pack-uses-second-half-comeback-to-tame-panthers-86-80.aspx

Two minutes into the contest, starting forward Wyatt Walker was ejected from the game due to a flagrant technical after he picked up a blocking foul. Starting guard Markell Johnson went down hard in the first half at the 9:45 mark, and did not return to the contest. The two Wolfpack starters combined for just two points in 10 minutes of action. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/1/12/mens-basketball-pack-uses-second-half-comeback-to-tame-panthers-86-80.aspx
 
Daniels had 15 first half points for the Pack but was offset by the Panthers going 18-of-21 from the free throw line in the opening 20 minutes. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/1/12/mens-basketball-pack-uses-second-half-comeback-to-tame-panthers-86-80.aspx
 
Pitt took its largest lead at 58-53 midway through the second half, as NC State went 4-of-24 from the field (0-of-6 from three-point range) in the first 12 minutes of the second half. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/1/12/mens-basketball-pack-uses-second-half-comeback-to-tame-panthers-86-80.aspx
 
Lockett got the Pack rolling in the second half with eight straight Wolfpack points to give NC State a 65-63 lead at the 5:00 mark. The Pack went on an 11-2 run, making 4-of-5 FGs, before Pitt called a timeout with 4:19 left and NC State leading 68-63. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/1/12/mens-basketball-pack-uses-second-half-comeback-to-tame-panthers-86-80.aspx
 
NC State never lost its lead the rest of the contest. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/1/12/mens-basketball-pack-uses-second-half-comeback-to-tame-panthers-86-80.aspx

NC State will now hit the road for the three games starting Tuesday night when they visit Winston Salem where they will take on Wake Forest.