NC State Snaps Losing Skid With Victory Over Boston College 

February 15 , 2025 

Raleigh, NC- Jayden Taylor scored 19 points with 4 steals, while Brandon Huntley-Hatfield added 11 and N.C. State who never trailed defeated Boston College 70-62 on Saturday afternoon at the Lenovo Center to snap a nine-game losing streak. 

The Wolfpack (10-15, 3-11) climbed out of a tie for last place in the Atlantic Coast Conference, leaving Boston College (10-15, 2-12) tied with Miami at the bottom. The Eagles have lost four straight and 10 of 11. Taylor’s four steals were part of 12 for the Pack as NC State finished with the second-most steals in a game this season and most against an ACC opponent. Taylor also scored the first 8 points of the game giving the Wolfpack an early 8–0 lead. 

Boston College was led by Donald Hand Jr. who scored 22 points and Chad Venning added in 14 for Boston College. Reserve Chas Kelley III scored 10. The Eagles were 17-for-48 shooting (35%). 

The Wolfpack shot 39%. With only five turnovers, they had a 15-3 advantage in points after turnovers. 

Venning with 12 points and Hand with six were the only players to score for Boston College in the first 11 minutes of the second half. N.C. State held a double-digit lead throughout the second half until a 3-pointer by Hand drew the Eagles within 67-58 with 2:51 remaining. It was the first time BC had been within single digits since it was 23-14 with 10:21 left in the first half. 

Ben Middlebrooks scored in the paint and Dennis Parker Jr. had a free throw to put the

Wolfpack up 70-58 near the one-minute mark before Boston College added four free throws down the stretch. 

BC finished the first half in a 3-for-13 shooting slump as NC State took a 44-29 halftime lead. Taylor scored 16 points in the half. 

Head Coach Comments by NC State Coach Kevin Keatts: 

Overall thoughts- 

“I thought we got back to what we have been doing the entire year on the defensive end. You look at the Louisville game, we were not happy with the defense that we played. Credit to our guys for understanding that. The best thing that we’ve had going for us the entire year is our calling card on being able to defend guys. Boston College has been playing well. They obviously have been a little unlucky the last two games, with a total of five overtimes.” 

Keatt’s thoughts on a happy locker room. 

“It’s great for me because when you look at this, it’s a very thin line. We could have had eight of these. We just were unfortunate to be on the other side of it. I can point out the games where we didn’t play well and there was a lot of separation at Wake Forest, a lot 

of separation. Then obviously at home against Louisville. If you look at every other game, we’re in the game, possibly to the last four minutes. So it’s good to see our guys back jumping around and happy and hope they have a good time tonight. Not too much fun. We’ll take off tomorrow. But it was good to see them happy.” 

Boston College hosts Virginia Tech on Tuesday and N.C. State visits North Carolina on Wednesday.