NC State Returns To Raleigh To Host Auburn

On Wednesday NC State who is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference will return to North Carolina’s state capital where they will host seventh ranked Auburn who is a member of the Southeastern Conference.

NC State comes into the game with a record of 9-1 while Auburn also comes into the game with a record of 9-1.

As for NC State’s previous game they defeated Penn State in the Boardwalk Classic in Atlantic City New Jersey.

The NC State men's basketball team pulled away from Penn State in the final 10 minutes of the game Saturday afternoon to defeat the Nittany Lions, 89-78, at Boardwalk Hall. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-pack-pulls-away-from-penn-state-to-improve-to-9-1.aspx

With the win NC State improves to 9-1 on the season and is off to the best start for a Pack team since the 2005-06 squad started the season with a 12-1 record. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-pack-pulls-away-from-penn-state-to-improve-to-9-1.aspx

The Pack led for the majority of the game, but found itself in a 58-58 tie with 11:47 to play after two Penn State free throws. On its next possession, CJ Bryce hit one free throw, missed the second, but DJ Funderburk pulled the rebound down and laid the ball back in the basket to give NC State a three-point lead. The Pack got a stop on defense and then Funderburk hit a three-pointer on the next trip down to double NC State's lead to six. After a couple of empty possessions for both teams, Penn State finally ended its three-minute scoring drought with a lay-up to cut the deficit to four, 64-60, with 8:58 to go. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-pack-pulls-away-from-penn-state-to-improve-to-9-1.aspx

NC State's lead was 68-64 with 7:35 to go when the Pack clinched the game with an 12-0 run. NC State scored on six consecutive possessions during the run while the Nittany Lions had seven consecutive empty possessions. Beverly hit a three-pointer to give the Pack its first double-digit lead of the game at 12, 76-64, with 4:56 to go and on NC State's next possession Beverly had an old-fashion three-point play to give the Pack a 15 point lead, 79-64, with 4:17 to play. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-pack-pulls-away-from-penn-state-to-improve-to-9-1.aspx

Penn State would cut the lead to nine with 23 seconds to play, but two Bryce free throws closed the scoring. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-pack-pulls-away-from-penn-state-to-improve-to-9-1.aspx

Beverly led five NC State players in double figures with a season-high 18 points. Dorn (15 points), Bryce (13 points), Markell Johnson (13 points), Funderburk (12 points) also reached double figures for the Pack. Wyatt Walker added nine points and a season-best eight rebounds. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-pack-pulls-away-from-penn-state-to-improve-to-9-1.aspx

NC State finished the game shooting a season-best 60.7 percent from the field. The Pack's starting lineup of Beverly, Brice, Daniels, Dorn and Walker combined to shoot 24-of-38 (63.2%) from the field. The Nittany Lions shot 36.7 percent from the field in the second half and finished the game shooting 42.2 percent from the field. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-pack-pulls-away-from-penn-state-to-improve-to-9-1.aspx

The Pack outrebounded Penn State, 40-29, and has now outrebounded its opponent in eight of 10 games. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-pack-pulls-away-from-penn-state-to-improve-to-9-1.aspx

NC State took a three-point lead into halftime, 40-37, after shooting 53.1 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes. Penn State jumped out to a 7-2 lead less than three minutes into the game, but the Pack responded with an 11-2 run to take the lead. Dorn's jumper at the 14:06 mark gave NC State its first lead of the game, 11-9, and NC State would lead the rest of the first half. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-pack-pulls-away-from-penn-state-to-improve-to-9-1.aspx

Like NC State, Auburn also won their previous game as they topped UAB.

– Jared Harper scored a career-high 31 points to lead No. 8 Auburn to a 75-71 overtime victory vs. UAB in the inaugural Mike Slive Invitational Saturday night at Legacy Arena. “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-harper-drops-31-points-in-overtime-win-vs-uab.aspx

"Great environment," head coach Bruce Pearl said. "That was the largest crowd to watch a basketball game in Birmingham since 1992. I want to thank both fan bases for making it a great environment for these teams. Obviously it brought the best out of UAB. They play us that way every time they play us, but we have Jared Harper and they don't. It's a great compliment to Jared. He was able to take the game over." “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-harper-drops-31-points-in-overtime-win-vs-uab.aspx

Harper scored 21 of the team's final 25 points, including 10 of the 12 points scored in overtime to lead the Tigers (9-1) to victory. He even had a hand in another bucket during that stretch as he assisted a Chuma Okeke dunk. “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-harper-drops-31-points-in-overtime-win-vs-uab.aspx

In total, the Mableton, Ga. native went 15-of-16 from the charity stripe, including 6-of-6 in overtime. “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-harper-drops-31-points-in-overtime-win-vs-uab.aspx

"I prepare a lot for exact moments like that," Harper said. "To have the trust of my coaches and teammates means a lot." “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-harper-drops-31-points-in-overtime-win-vs-uab.aspx

Okeke joined Harper in double figures with 11 points and added six rebounds. In his first game back in his hometown, Austin Wiley chimed in six points, seven rebounds and three blocks. “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-harper-drops-31-points-in-overtime-win-vs-uab.aspx

Danjel Purifoy saw his first action in over 21 months and contributed two points with one rebound and a steal in seven minutes on the court. “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-harper-drops-31-points-in-overtime-win-vs-uab.aspx

Following a back-and-forth affair in the first half, Auburn took a 28-27 lead into the locker room. The Tigers were limited to just 35 percent from the floor in the opening 20 minutes. “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-harper-drops-31-points-in-overtime-win-vs-uab.aspx

UAB (6-4) came out of the intermission on fire, regaining the lead and stretching it to as much as seven at 45-38 with just under 12 minutes to play. “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-harper-drops-31-points-in-overtime-win-vs-uab.aspx

After a layup from Wiley, a pair of free throws from Bryce Brown and a 3-pointer from Malik Dunbar, the Tigers brought it back within two before tying it up at 47-47 following a fastbreak lay-in by Harper. “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-harper-drops-31-points-in-overtime-win-vs-uab.aspx

Auburn had a 6-point lead at 60-54 with 1:15 left in regulation, but a pair of 3s sandwiched around a couple of free throws by Harper brought it back to a one-possession game. “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-harper-drops-31-points-in-overtime-win-vs-uab.aspx

Harper made 1-of-2 from the foul line with 35 seconds remaining to make it 63-60. However, UAB continued its hot shooting from behind the arc and tied the game at 63-63 with 10 seconds left. “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-harper-drops-31-points-in-overtime-win-vs-uab.aspx

A last-second shot from the junior point guard rimmed out and forced the two teams to five more minutes of play. “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-harper-drops-31-points-in-overtime-win-vs-uab.aspx

In overtime, the Harper show continued as he gave the Tigers a 4-point lead following a jumper and two free throws at 67-63. “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-harper-drops-31-points-in-overtime-win-vs-uab.aspx

UAB got within one at 67-66, but an Anfernee McLemore dunk and another layup from Harper brought the cushion back out to five. “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-harper-drops-31-points-in-overtime-win-vs-uab.aspx

The Blazers poured in another make from downtown, but Harper knocked down four straight free throws to ice the game and send Auburn home with a 75-71 victory.”according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-harper-drops-31-points-in-overtime-win-vs-uab.aspx

UAB was led by Jalen Perry's 18 points. Zack Bryant contributed a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-harper-drops-31-points-in-overtime-win-vs-uab.aspx

Tip-off is set for 7:00pm from PNC Arena. The game will be televised on ESPN2.