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BASKETBALL

NC State Heads To Blacksburg To Face Virginia Tech

After hosting Notre Dame in North Carolina’s state capital NC State heads to Blacksburg where they will take on Virginia Tech on Saturday afternoon.

NC State comes into the game with a record of 11-4 while they’re 2-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference and sixth in the standings while Virginia Tech comes into the game with the same overall record as well as the same record in the Atlantic Coast Conference and is eighth in the standings. “according to http://theacc.com/standings.aspx?path=mbball

As for NC State’s previous game, NC State topped Notre Dame in Raleigh.

NC State teammates D.J. Funderburk and Markell Johnson combined to score 43 points Wednesday evening as the two players led the Wolfpack to a 73-68 win over Notre Dame inside PNC Arena. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2020/1/8/mens-basketball-funderburk-and-johnson-guide-pack-to-comeback-win-over-notre-dame.aspx

Johnson tied his career-high with 27 points, finishing the game 9-of-15 from the floor. He added a game-high seven assists and a game-high three steals. Funderburk scored 12 of his 16 points in the second half and tied his career-high with nine rebounds. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2020/1/8/mens-basketball-funderburk-and-johnson-guide-pack-to-comeback-win-over-notre-dame.aspx

Funderburk and Johnson combined to score 21 of NC State's final 24 points of the game, including the last 15.”according to https://gopack.com/news/2020/1/8/mens-basketball-funderburk-and-johnson-guide-pack-to-comeback-win-over-notre-dame.aspx

NC State trailed by five points at halftime, 39-34, and quickly fell behind by 11 points after the Fighting Irish scored on its first three possessions of the second half. Notre Dame took its largest lead of the game a few minutes later when Prentiss Hubb hit a lay-up to give the Irish a 51-39 lead with 15:20 to play. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2020/1/8/mens-basketball-funderburk-and-johnson-guide-pack-to-comeback-win-over-notre-dame.aspx

The Pack only managed to shave three points off the deficit over the next five minutes as NC State trailed 58-49 with 10:30 to go.”according to https://gopack.com/news/2020/1/8/mens-basketball-funderburk-and-johnson-guide-pack-to-comeback-win-over-notre-dame.aspx

From that point, NC State went on an 11-2 run, tying the game on two Funderburk free throws with 5:25 to play.”according to https://gopack.com/news/2020/1/8/mens-basketball-funderburk-and-johnson-guide-pack-to-comeback-win-over-notre-dame.aspx

The Pack took the lead, 68-66, on two Funderburk free throws with 1:37 to go. It was NC State's first lead of the game since it was 10-7. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2020/1/8/mens-basketball-funderburk-and-johnson-guide-pack-to-comeback-win-over-notre-dame.aspx

Jericole Hellems stepped in front of a Notre Dame pass on the next possession to get the stop and Johnson hit a driving lay-up on the other end to give NC State a four-point lead with 53 seconds to go.”according to https://gopack.com/news/2020/1/8/mens-basketball-funderburk-and-johnson-guide-pack-to-comeback-win-over-notre-dame.aspx

Like NC State, Virginia Tech won their previous game as they topped Syracuse in Syracuse New York.

 Looking to bounce back, the Virginia Tech men's basketball team did so, picking up its second ACC road win of the season by defeating Syracuse 67-63 on Tuesday night inside the Carrier Dome. “according to https://hokiesports.com/news/2020/1/8/mens-basketball-cones-career-night-propels-hokies-to-victory-over-syracuse.aspx
 
The Hokies (11-4, 2-2 ACC) took down Syracuse (8-7,1-3) for their first ever win over 'Cuse in the Carrier Dome and just the second-ever victory at the Dome (Fairfield, 2000). In a true team effort, Tech combined for 20 assists on 21 made field goals. “according to
 https://hokiesports.com/news/2020/1/8/mens-basketball-cones-career-night-propels-hokies-to-victory-over-syracuse.aspx
Freshman Jalen Cone scored a career-high 19 points and hit five 3-pointers. Cone also sparked a 17-2 run by hitting multiple clutch triples, which separated Tech in the second half to help lift the Hokies over Syracuse. “according to https://hokiesports.com/news/2020/1/8/mens-basketball-cones-career-night-propels-hokies-to-victory-over-syracuse.aspx
 
Redshirt freshman Landers Nolley (13 points) and forward P.J. Horne (12) each reached double-figures and made critical plays down the stretch to help the Hokies emerge victoriously.”according to https://hokiesports.com/news/2020/1/8/mens-basketball-cones-career-night-propels-hokies-to-victory-over-syracuse.aspx
 
Tech outscored the Orange 27-12 in bench points and 14-1 in fastbreak points. The Hokies also had 20 assists to the Cuse six, with guard Wabissa Bede recording eight of those for Tech. “according to https://hokiesports.com/news/2020/1/8/mens-basketball-cones-career-night-propels-hokies-to-victory-over-syracuse.aspx

Tip-off is set for 2:00pm from Cassel Coliseum. The game will be televised on the ACC Network.