NC State Wins On The Road At Miami In Atlantic Coast Conference Opener

Eighteenth ranked NC State got their Atlantic Coast Conference slate off to a winning start on the road.

NC State men's basketball team defeated Miami, 87-82, Thursday evening inside the Watsco Center in both teams' ACC opener. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/1/3/mens-basketball-pack-battles-back-to-defeat-hurricanes-in-acc-opener.aspx

With the win, NC State improves to 13-1, 1-0 in the ACC. The Pack is now off to the best start for the program since the 1973-74 team went 30-1 and won the National Championship. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/1/3/mens-basketball-pack-battles-back-to-defeat-hurricanes-in-acc-opener.aspx

The Pack faced its largest deficit of the season Thursday evening, trailing the Hurricanes by as many as 10 points in the second half. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/1/3/mens-basketball-pack-battles-back-to-defeat-hurricanes-in-acc-opener.aspx

With 9:53 to play, Miami led 74-64, but the Pack went on a 13-0 run to take the lead and never trailed again. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/1/3/mens-basketball-pack-battles-back-to-defeat-hurricanes-in-acc-opener.aspx

Braxton Beverly started the rally with a three-pointer and on the next possession Torin Dorn completed a three-point play to help the Pack close within four, 74-70, with 8:23 to go. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/1/3/mens-basketball-pack-battles-back-to-defeat-hurricanes-in-acc-opener.aspx

After another defensive stop, Markell Johnson buried a three-pointer from the top of the key to bring the deficit to just one point at the under-eight media timeout. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/1/3/mens-basketball-pack-battles-back-to-defeat-hurricanes-in-acc-opener.aspx

Out of the timeout, NC State forced another defensive stop and then Devon Daniels gave the Pack its first lead of the second half with a short jumper in the lane with 6:35 to play. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/1/3/mens-basketball-pack-battles-back-to-defeat-hurricanes-in-acc-opener.aspx

DJ Funderburk would add a short jumper two possessions later to give the Pack a 77-74 lead.  “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/1/3/mens-basketball-pack-battles-back-to-defeat-hurricanes-in-acc-opener.aspx

Miami would cut the deficit to one at 77-76, but NC State scored eight of the game's next 10 points to take an 85-78 lead with 18 seconds to go. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/1/3/mens-basketball-pack-battles-back-to-defeat-hurricanes-in-acc-opener.aspx

Overall, the Pack held Miami to eight points on 3-of-14 shooting in the final 9:53 of the game. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/1/3/mens-basketball-pack-battles-back-to-defeat-hurricanes-in-acc-opener.aspx

Johnson led the Pack with 20 points. The Cleveland, Ohio, native scored 17 of his points in the second half. He was 5-for-6 shooting in the second half, including 3-of-4 from three-point range. He also hit four consecutive free throws, all on 1-and-1 opportunities in the final minute of the game. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/1/3/mens-basketball-pack-battles-back-to-defeat-hurricanes-in-acc-opener.aspx

Daniels added 19 points for the Pack. The sophomore guard was 7-of-10 shooting and added a key block in the final minute to keep Miami at bay.”according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/1/3/mens-basketball-pack-battles-back-to-defeat-hurricanes-in-acc-opener.aspx

Braxton Beverly (11 points) and CJ Bryce (10 points) also reached double figures for the Pack. Wyatt Walker finished one point short of a double-double with nine points and 11 rebounds. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/1/3/mens-basketball-pack-battles-back-to-defeat-hurricanes-in-acc-opener.aspx

NC State won the battle on the boards, 51-29, over Miami and also hit 14-of-18 free throws compared to 16-of-29 for the Hurricanes. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/1/3/mens-basketball-pack-battles-back-to-defeat-hurricanes-in-acc-opener.aspx

The Pack was fouled on three consecutive one-and-one opportunities in the final minute and went 6-for-6 from the foul line. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/1/3/mens-basketball-pack-battles-back-to-defeat-hurricanes-in-acc-opener.aspx

NC State will return to North Carolina’s state capital on Tuesday when they host their tobacco road rival North Carolina. Tip-off is set for 9:00pm from PNC Arena.