ACC Hoops: Louisville Crushes NC State, 91-66

February 13 , 2025

Raleigh, NC-  Reyne Smith and Terrence Edwards Jr. scored 21 points each and hot-shooting Louisville rolled past N.C. State 91-66 on Wednesday night at the Lenovo Center. 

The Cardinals shot 61% in the first half and 67% in the second for 64% overall. They made 35 of 55 shots, 11 of 19 3-pointers and 10 of 11 free throws.  J’Vonne Hadley had 17 points, nine rebounds and four assists for Louisville (19-6, 12-2 ACC) along with Chuck Hepburn who contributed with 15 points.

NC State was led by Trey Parker with 13 points. Breon Pass and Paul McNeil Jr both had 12 and Marcus Hill added in 10 points for the Wolfpack (9-15, 2-11), who have lost nine in a row. Parker has now led NC State in scoring in back-to-back games while Pass’ 12 points are the most of his career against an ACC opponent and McNeil’s 12-point effort was the first double-digit scoring game of his young career. During the second half, Hill scored the 1,000th career point of his DI collegiate career in just his 58th game at the Division I level.

The 91 points were the most allowed by NC State this season as Louisville’s field goal percentage (63.6%) and three-point field goal percentage (57.9%) were both season-highs for an NC State opponent.

After leading by 14 at halftime, the Cardinals pushed their lead to 20 points early in the second half. A 3-pointer from Smith made it 81-53 near the four-minute mark and his 3 a minute later restored the 28-point lead. NC State never got closer than 13 points in the second half. 

Louisville scored the first seven points of the game and the Cardinals led 30-13 after Hadley made two free throws with about 7 1/2 minutes left in the first half of play. NC State used a 7-0 run to get within single digits at 36-27 before a layup by Hepburn and a 3-pointer by Smith put Louisville up by 14 points 41-27 at the break.   

Louisville led 46-16 in points in the paint and 21-10 on the fast break. State had 41 bench points, compared to 11 for Louisville. Louisville moved ahead 15-14 in the all-time series between the two.

NC State Coach Kevin Keats postgame comments:

“I’m here and I would talk about how our defenses really kept us in a lot of games. I didn’t think it was very good tonight, like defensively. We didn’t do a good job understanding scouting reports. We knew Louisville is obviously a great shooting team, not a good shooting team. Obviously gave up 11 threes, and they were 11 for 19. We just had too many breakdowns defensively. We have been in every game because our defense has really kept us in games.  Tonight was a one off, and I hope it’s a one off. I didn’t think we did a great job on defensively. Maybe it’s the travel, maybe it’s give Louisville credit. Maybe it’s a team that can really space you out and do a great job of shooting the basketball, but I didn’t like the way we played on that side of the basketball.” 

N.C. State hosts Boston College on Saturday while Louisville visits Notre Dame on Sunday.