Duke Powers Past NC State 69-53

RALEIGH, N.C. — Sophomore Matthew Hurt scored 24 points and Duke took over with a 22-3 first-half run to beat North Carolina State 69-53 on Saturday at PNC Arena.

Freshman Mark Williams added season highs of 13 points and five blocks for the Blue Devils (8-8, 6-6 ACC), who had lost three straight and six of eight. Duke led the entire way after the opening minute in a venue where the Blue Devils had lost four of five, including a burst of 14 unanswered during its big run that decided this one on head coach Mike Krzyzewski’s birthday.

Freshman Shakeel Moore had 13 points to lead the Wolfpack (8-9, 4-8 ACC). NC State has lost eight of 10 games, along with having two postponed, since the start of 2021.

Seven different players scored during Duke’s big run, which ended with DJ Steward’s three-pointer followed by a floater in the lane by Jeremy Roach to make it 33-13 with 6:11 left before halftime. Duke led by 18 at the break and finished the game shooting .511, including 9-of-18 from three-point range.

That included a 6-for-7 showing from Hurt, who had missed 17-of-22 three-pointers through the previous five games. The 6-foot-9 sophomore, who entered as the ACC’s No. 2 scorer at 17.7 points, made his first six shots overall and 8 of 10 for the game.

NC State shot .451 but were held to 2-of-10 three-pointers and committed 18 turnovers.

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Duke visits another instate league opponent Wednesday at Wake Forest. Tipoff is set for 8:30 p.m. ET on ACC Network.

NC State visits Pittsburgh that same day.