Game Notes via Media Relations.
NC State Hosts Wake Forest
NC State concludes its second home ACC contests this week, as the Pack plays host to Wake Forest on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. Wake Forest won the first matchup of the season, as the two teams opened ACC play with a 67-59 Demon Deacons win on December 20 in Winston-Salem. After the Wake Forest game, the Pack has off until a trip to Miami on February 27. The game will be broadcasted on Raycom with Mike Hogewood and Dave Odom.
The Series Versus Wake Forest
The NC State-Wake Forest rivalry is the oldest series for the Wolfpack, dating back to the 1910-11 season. The two squads have faced each other a total of 230 times, and NC State leads the overall series 131-99. The Pack holds a 92-53 advantage in games played in Raleigh, and also holds a 14-8 edge when the two teams have faced off on a neutral court. Wake Forest has emerged victorious 38 times in the 63 games played in Winston-Salem (38-25). NC State has won nine of the last 16 games against Wake, including the last four games played in Raleigh. NC State is 6-4 all-time against Wake Forest at the RBC Center. Under Sidney Lowe, the Pack is 4-3 against Wake. NC State swept the season series in Lowe’s first season, and each team has won on its own home court each of the last two seasons. Earlier this year, Wake won in Winston-Salem, 67-59.
Earlier This Season Versus Wake Forest
NC State opened ACC play on the road for the fourth straight season, with the Wolfpack falling at Wake Forest, 67-59, on December 20. Wake Forest shot 51.7 percent in the first half to take a 35-26 lead into the half. The Pack would cut that lead to four points at 42-38 with 14:31 left, but Wake went on a 6-0 run and never had a lead under seven points the rest of the game. Javier Gonzalez had a team-high 18 points to go with eight rebounds, and Tracy Smith had his fifth double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds despite playing only 23 minutes because of foul trouble.
Last Time Out for NC State
NC State played an almost flawless first half and built a 10-point halftime lead (37-27), but the Pack could not hold off Maryland’s second half surge. The Terps swept the season series with a 67-58 win at the RBC Center on Wednesday. NC State held a 46-36 lead with 14:50 left, but Maryland would go on a 9-0 run, and a 22-5 run overall to grab the lead. In the second half, Maryland outscored NC State 40-21, as the Teprs shot 56.0 percent (14-25) from the field, while the Pack shot just 23.3 percent (7-30). Dennis Horner recorded his second double-double of the season, as he led the Pack with 19 points and 10 rebounds.
Last Season Versus Wake Forest
Last season each team won on its own home court for the second straight season. NC State defeated its first ranked opponent of the season, as the Pack downed No. 7 Wake Forest, 82-76, at the RBC Center on February 11. Wake Forest jumped out to a 13-6 lead seven minutes into the contest, but the Pack would close the half on a 36-21 and capture a 42-34 lead. NC State would extend its lead to as much as 20 points in the second half (62-42 with 13:49 left), but Wake chipped the lead all the way down to two points with one minute left (78-76). But NC State would hit four of its six free throws, and hold the Deacons without a point the rest of the way. Brandon Costner led the Pack with 23 points, including 11 straight in the second half, and Tracy Smith recorded his first double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds (including 10 offensive rebounds). No. 13 Wake Forest used a 20-2 first half run and held onto the lead throughout the game, defeating NC State 78-85 in Winston-Salem on February 26. NC State held a slight 22-19 lead at the 11:13 mark, but would score just once on its next 12 possessions as Wake captured a 39-24 lead at the 4:53 mark. NC State would cut into the lead trailing 43-35 at the half, and start the second half on a 9-2 run, but the Pack never could take the lead. Wake’s James Johnson had career-highs of 28 points and 18 rebounds and help the Deacons shoot 52.5 percent (32-61) from the field. Tracy Smith led five Wolfpack scorers in double figures as he finished with 18 points, and the Pack committed just eight turnovers.
