Can North Carolina State Bounce Back After Duke Defeat?
The North Carolina State Wolfpack, ranked 6th, faced a challenging contest against the unranked Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Wolfpack's record now stands at 22-4 after a hard-fought game that ended with a score of 69-58 in favor of the Blue Devils.
The Wolfpack entered the game with high expectations but struggled to find their rhythm early on, scoring only 8 points in the first quarter compared to Duke's 13. The second quarter saw a slight improvement for NCST, adding another 11 points to their tally; however, they were outpaced by Duke who extended their lead with an additional 22 points. By halftime, it was clear that the Wolfpack had an uphill battle ahead.
In an attempt to turn the tide, North Carolina State came out stronger in the third quarter scoring 18 points but still found themselves trailing as Duke added another 17 to their total. The final period saw NCST's best offensive output with 21 points scored but it wasn't enough to close down Duke's consistent performance which also saw them netting another 17 points.
North Carolina State’s shooting was below par throughout the game with field goal and three-point percentages standing at thirty-three and twenty-five respectively. Despite this struggle from range, they excelled at free throws where they achieved an impressive eighty-eight percent accuracy rate. However, this proficiency from the line was overshadowed by their inability to contain Duke’s offense which boasted forty-seven percent shooting from the field and fifty-six percent from inside the arc.
Defensively, both teams managed seven steals each but NCST could only muster one block compared to three by Duke. Rebounding was one area where North Carolina State held an edge over their opponents; they grabbed thirty-nine rebounds including nine offensive boards which contributed nine second-chance points.
One notable aspect of NCST’s play was their ability to capitalize on turnovers despite committing fourteen themselves; they scored twelve points off turnovers thanks largely due to seven fast break points indicating some success in transition play.
Looking ahead for fans of North Carolina State Wolfpack is a home game against Syracuse Orange scheduled for February twenty-ninth at seven PM Eastern Time at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh. This upcoming match will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra via internet streaming platforms providing supporters another opportunity to cheer on their team as they seek redemption following this setback.