NC State Suffers Their First Loss Of The Season As They Drop Season Opener To Georgia Tech In Raleigh

Like last season’s meeting between the NC State and Georgia Tech who are both members of the Atlantic Coast Conference NC State lost to Georgia Tech but this time they lost to them in their season opener.

The NC State men's basketball team (0-1, 0-1) fell to Georgia Tech (1-0, 1-0) in its season opener as the Yellow Jackets took an 82-81 overtime win inside PNC Arena on Tuesday night. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/11/5/mens-basketball-wolfpack-falls-to-georgia-tech-in-ot-thriller.aspx

Wolfpack senior C.J. Bryce nailed two free throws to give the Pack an 81-80 advantage late in overtime, but James Banks III sealed the game for the Yellow Jackets with free throws of his own as 2.1 seconds remained in the contest.”according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/11/5/mens-basketball-wolfpack-falls-to-georgia-tech-in-ot-thriller.aspx

Bryce came alive in the second half with 14 points on an impressive 7-for-11 performance from the floor. He led all scorers with 24 total points, the most in his NC State career, and 11 rebounds. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/11/5/mens-basketball-wolfpack-falls-to-georgia-tech-in-ot-thriller.aspx

The game marked the third consecutive year the squad opened ACC play with at least three players in double figure. Five players entered the category in Tuesday night's game - Bryce, Jericole Hellems (15 points), Devon Daniels (12 points) Pat Andree (12 points) and Braxton Beverly (11 points). “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/11/5/mens-basketball-wolfpack-falls-to-georgia-tech-in-ot-thriller.aspx

Beverly and Daniels also dished out five assists apiece. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/11/5/mens-basketball-wolfpack-falls-to-georgia-tech-in-ot-thriller.aspx

NC State opened the game on an 8-0 run and continued to move the ball well, taking a 24-12 lead into the second media timeout thanks to seven assists on its first eight field goals. With a 4:00 field-goal freeze to end the first half, Georgia Tech pulled within seven (42-35) after the opening 20 minutes.”according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/11/5/mens-basketball-wolfpack-falls-to-georgia-tech-in-ot-thriller.aspx

The Pack continued to struggle from the field in the second half. The Yellow Jackets tied the game at 59 with 13:39 remaining before a Hellems three-pointer sparked a 6-0 run to regain the Wolfpack's lead. NC State entered the bonus at the 10:07 mark in the second half and finished out the game connecting on 11 of its final 12 attempts from the line.”according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/11/5/mens-basketball-wolfpack-falls-to-georgia-tech-in-ot-thriller.aspx

Bryce rattled off 10 consecutive points for the Pack over a four-minute span in the second half. Hellems added a pair of free throws with less than two minutes remaining, but Banks III knotted the score for a seventh time in the second half to put the score at 75-75 at the end of regulation.”according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/11/5/mens-basketball-wolfpack-falls-to-georgia-tech-in-ot-thriller.aspx

NC State did not trail until the 4:42 mark in overtime when Georgia Tech took a 78-75 lead.”according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/11/5/mens-basketball-wolfpack-falls-to-georgia-tech-in-ot-thriller.aspx

Also like last season Georgia Tech was on the other end of the spectrum.

James Banks III knocked down two pressure-packed free throws with 2.1 seconds left in overtime, completing a 20-point, 14-rebound night and lifting Georgia Tech to an 82-81 overtime victory over NC State Tuesday night at PNC Arena. “according to https://ramblinwreck.com/gt-ncstate-recap-110519-2/

In the season opener for both teams, the Yellow Jackets rallied from a 15-point deficit late in the first half behind a solid offensive effort in which Tech shot 62.5 percent from the floor after intermission, and a stout defensive stand that limited the Wolfpack to 36.4 percent in the second half and 1-for-4 in the extra period.”according to https://ramblinwreck.com/gt-ncstate-recap-110519-2/

Tech never led in regulation, and remained behind until Banks’ basket tied the game for the first time at 48-48 with 13:35 left. Tech tied the game five more times before the end of the second period, the last coming on another Banks field goal with 1:37 left, making the score 75-all.”according to https://ramblinwreck.com/gt-ncstate-recap-110519-2/

In overtime, the lead changed four times in addition to two more ties. Freshman Asanti Price gave Tech its first lead at 78-75 with a three-point basket, his only field goal of the game, on the Jackets’ first possession. Braxton Beverly hit a pair of free throws and a jumper in the paint to posh the Wolfpack ahead 79-78, with 2:07 left.

Michael Devoe, who tied his career high with 22 points, put Tech back on top with a jumper 17 seconds later before C.J. Bryce hit a pair of free throws to give NC State its last lead at 81-80 with 35 seconds remaining. Bryce led the Wolfpack with 24 points. “according to https://ramblinwreck.com/gt-ncstate-recap-110519-2/

On the ensuing Tech possession, Jose Alvarado lost the ball then stole it back, and found Devoe, who missed a three-pointer. Banks got the offensive rebound and was fouled in the scramble, and calmly made the two free throws with 2.1 seconds left. Beverly’s halfcourt heave at the buzzer was off the mark.

Alvarado finished the game with 10 points and six assists, while Raleigh native Moses Wright scored 12 and Khalid Moore added 11, putting all give Georgia Tech starters in double figures for the night.”according to https://ramblinwreck.com/gt-ncstate-recap-110519-2/

Four other Wolfpackers also reached double figures in the game, with Jericole Hellems scoring 15, Pat Andree and Devon Daniels chipping in 12 each and Beverly adding 11. “according to https://ramblinwreck.com/gt-ncstate-recap-110519-2/

NC State will return to action on Sunday when they host Detroit Mercy in North Carolina’s state capital.