NC State Triumphs Over Syracuse
In a commanding performance, NC State secured an 88-68 victory over Syracuse on Tuesday night, marking their third consecutive win. The Wolfpack showcased a robust scoring lineup, highlighted by Darrion Williams, who netted 23 points, and Quadir Copeland, contributing 19 points along with nine assists and four steals. Ven-Allen Lubin also shone, making all eight of his shots for a total of 18 points, while Musa Sagnia added 10 points coming off the bench.
Offensive Prowess
The Wolfpack, now boasting a record of 15-6 and 6-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), demonstrated their offensive prowess with a shooting percentage of 51% (33 of 65), despite struggling from beyond the three-point line, managing only 29% (7 of 24). NC State maintained a constant lead throughout the match, going into halftime ahead by four points at 41-37.
Second Half Highlights
As the second half began, NC State extended its lead. After Syracuse’s Donnie Freeman made a layup to cut the margin to 55-51 with just under 12 minutes remaining, Copeland quickly countered with a three-point play and additional free throws, pushing the lead to 60-51. After a layup by J.J. Starling of Syracuse, Sagnia answered with a dunk, followed by a layup from Terrance Arceneaux, giving the Wolfpack their first double-digit lead of the game. NC State maintained the lead by at least ten points for the final five minutes.
Syracuse’s Struggles
Freeman led Syracuse with a strong performance, scoring 24 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, while J.J. Starling added 17 points. However, the Orange struggled offensively, missing 41 shots and finishing the game shooting just 39% (26 of 67) from the field.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, Syracuse will seek to break its four-game losing streak when they host Notre Dame on Saturday. NC State, on the other hand, is hitting its stride, winning five out of their last six games, and will travel to face Wake Forest this weekend.
