Will NC State Or Wake Forest Get Their First Win In The Atlantic Coast Conference In Winston Salem?
NC State has already played one Atlantic Coast Conference game this season that was back on November 5th on the opening night of the season when they hosted Georgia Tech.
On Saturday afternoon they will head to Winston Salem North Carolina where they will visit Wake Forest where they will play their second Atlantic Coast Conference game of the season and where they hope they can get in the win column for the first time in Atlantic Coast Conference competition while Wake Forest will look to do the same.
NC State comes into the game with a record of 6-2 while they’re 0-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference while Wake Forest comes into the game with a record of 5-4 while they’re 0-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
As for NC State’s previous game,
They beat Wisconsin in the ACC/ Big Ten Challenge.
he NC State men's basketball team (6-2, 0-1 ACC) secured a victory in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge as it defeated the visiting Wisconsin Badgers (4-4), 69-54, Wednesday night inside PNC Arena. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/12/4/mens-basketball-hellems-career-night-lifts-wolfpack-over-badgers-69-54.aspx
Sophomore Jericole Hellems' career-high 23 points led all scorers on the floor. Hellems' efficient night set the tone for the Pack as he went 8-for-13 from the floor and 4-for-6 from behind the arc. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/12/4/mens-basketball-hellems-career-night-lifts-wolfpack-over-badgers-69-54.aspx
Markell Johnson (12 points) and C.J. Bryce (11 points) joined Hellems in the double-digit scoring column for the Wolfpack. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/12/4/mens-basketball-hellems-career-night-lifts-wolfpack-over-badgers-69-54.aspx
After eight quick points for Hellems in the opening three minutes of the second half, NC State hit its stride after the first media timeout. The Pack made four consecutive field goals to take a 58-44 lead with 10:34 remaining in the game. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/12/4/mens-basketball-hellems-career-night-lifts-wolfpack-over-badgers-69-54.aspx
NC State's defense held the Badgers to one point in the final six minutes of the game to close out a strong second-half performance. NC State shot 52 percent (13-for-25) from the floor and 50 percent (5-for-10) from three-point range in the second half. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/12/4/mens-basketball-hellems-career-night-lifts-wolfpack-over-badgers-69-54.aspx
The Wolfpack took care of the ball, recording only six turnovers in the game, which registers as its new season low. The team forced nine turnovers and held the Badgers to 38 percent shooting from the field and just 22 percent from long range. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/12/4/mens-basketball-hellems-career-night-lifts-wolfpack-over-badgers-69-54.aspx
NC State took a 32-30 lead into the break courtesy of a half-court shot by Johnson as time expired. The Pack displayed efficiency on offense over a six-minute stretch in the first half, making eight consecutive field goals in that span. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/12/4/mens-basketball-hellems-career-night-lifts-wolfpack-over-badgers-69-54.as
While NC State won their previous game Wake Forest meanwhile lost on the road at Penn State.
Wake Forest wrapped up a six-game road trip falling to Penn State 76-54 in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Wednesday night. “according to https://godeacs.com/news/2019/12/4/mens-basketball-wake-falls-to-penn-state-in-acc-big-ten-challenge.aspx
Olivier Sarr posted his fourth double-double of the season with team-bests 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Andrien White also had double-digit points with 10. The bench stepped up for the Deacons scoring 37 of Wake's 54 points. “according to https://godeacs.com/news/2019/12/4/mens-basketball-wake-falls-to-penn-state-in-acc-big-ten-challenge.aspx
HOW IT HAPPENED
Wake Forest (5-4) got off to a slow start as the Nittany Lions controlled a 20-7 lead after the first eight minutes of action. The Deacs slowly chipped away at Penn State's lead and Sharone Wright Jr. hit a three to pull the Deacons within four at 22-18. “according to https://godeacs.com/news/2019/12/4/mens-basketball-wake-falls-to-penn-state-in-acc-big-ten-challenge.aspx
Penn State held Wake Forest scoreless from the field and went on an 11-1 run in the final three minutes of the half to take a 41-23 lead into the break. The Nittany Lions shot 50 percent from the floor in the opening half. “according to https://godeacs.com/news/2019/12/4/mens-basketball-wake-falls-to-penn-state-in-acc-big-ten-challenge.aspx
Out of the break, The Deacons held the Nittany Lions to just 1-14 from three, but Penn State used efficient scoring from eight different players, led by Myreon Jones with 22 total points, to regain a commanding lead. The Nittany Lions finished the game shooting 44 percent while holding Wake to 29 percent. “according to https://godeacs.com/news/2019/12/4/mens-basketball-wake-falls-to-penn-state-in-acc-big-ten-challenge.aspx
Will NC State or Wake Forest execute their game plan and get their first Atlantic Coast Conference win of the season?
Tip-off is set for 2:00pm from Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The game will be televised on ACC Network.