NC State Was Topped By Louisville On Saturday 73-68 In The Teams Inaugural Match Up Of The Regular Season In Raleigh
NC State was topped by Louisville on Saturday 73-68 in the teams inaugural match up of the regular season in Raleigh.
In NC State’s 73-68 loss to Louisville NC State battled back from a 14 points deficit, but Louisville made two clutch three-pointers in the final 90 seconds to win, 73-68, Saturday.
NC State found itself down 43-29 at halftime, but cut the deficit to just one possession six minutes into the second half on a Cam Hayes three-point play.
An Ebenezer Dowuona hook shot with 10:11 to play gave NC State a 53-52 lead. It was the Pack's first lead since it was 17-16.
Terquavion Smith scored on the Pack's next possession and Dereon Seabron nearly blew the roof off the building with a dunk in traffic to give NC State a 57-52 lead with 8:28 to go.
After NC State took the lead on the Ebenzer Dowuona hook shot, it stayed in front until a desperation Noah Locke three-pointer at the end of the shot clock tied the game at 68 with 90 seconds to go. NC State's shot on its next possession was blocked and Louisville took possession with 55 seconds to play, looking for the lead.
NC State played great defense and forced a Louisville timeout with two seconds left on the shot clock. After the timeout, the Cardinals threw a cross-court pass to Matt Cross who hit a fadeaway three while falling out-of-bounds to give Louisville a 71-68 lead with 26 seconds to go.
Hayes three-point attempt to tie was off the mark and Louisville's Jarrod West made both ends of a one-on-one to clinch the game for Louisville.
Jericole Hellems led NC State with 18 points. Sith added 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting. Hayes was also in double figures with 15 points.
Seabron was one rebound shy of his sixth double-double of the season with 11 points and nine rebounds.
NC State, Lousiville are going to match up again in the regular season when NC State visits the Bluegrass State for the rematch with Louisville on Wednesday January 22, 2022!
For now though NC State is going to prepare to return to non-conference play when they host Bethune -Cookman on Thursday night in North Carolina’s state capital.
Tip-off is set for 6:30pm from James T. Valvano Arena At William Neal Reynolds Coliseum!
The game is going to be televised on the Regional Sports Network!