Pack Uses Second Half Comeback to Tame Panthers, 86-80

RALEIGH, N.C. – The 15th-ranked NC State Wolfpack used a second half comeback to down the visiting Pittsburgh Panthers, 86-80, Saturday afternoon at PNC Arena. The Wolfpack hit 10 of its final 12 shots in the game to move to 14-2 overall and 2-1 in conference play.

A pair of Wolfpack reserves had the top games of their Wolfpack careers, as DJ Funderburk posted career-highs in points (18), rebounds (9) and minutes (34), while Eric Lockett had a season-high 17 points. Devon Daniels also contributed 17 points off the bench.

NC State’s bench outscored Pitt 54-9, after also outscoring UNC-CH’s 43-9 in the Pack’s previous game. For the season, NC State’s bench has now scored 593 points in 16 games and has outscored the opponents bench by 305 points.

The Pack had four players in double figures for the 12th time this season.

After being outrebounded by 18 in the outing against the Tar Heels on Tuesday, NC State had a season-best 21 offensive rebounds Saturday afternoon and outrebounded the Panthers by 10.

NC State has now won seven of the eight meetings against Pittsburgh since the Panthers joined the ACC ahead of the 2013-14 season.

NC State opened the game hitting six of its first eight shots and held a 15-8 lead at the first media timeout. The Pack was up nine points at 35-26 with 6:23 to go in the first half, but Pitt closed the opening frame on a 14-6 run.

Pitt used a 7-0 run and took its first lead of the game with 1:51 left in the first half at 40-39, but a basket by Lockett in the final minute of the half gave NC State the 41-40 halftime lead.

Two minutes into the contest, starting forward Wyatt Walker was ejected from the game due to a flagrant technical after he picked up a blocking foul. Starting guard Markell Johnson went down hard in the first half at the 9:45 mark, and did not return to the contest. The two Wolfpack starters combined for just two points in 10 minutes of action.

Daniels had 15 first half points for the Pack but was offset by the Panthers going 18-of-21 from the free throw line in the opening 20 minutes.

Pitt took its largest lead at 58-53 midway through the second half, as NC State went 4-of-24 from the field (0-of-6 from three-point range) in the first 12 minutes of the second half.

Lockett got the Pack rolling in the second half with eight straight Wolfpack points to give NC State a 65-63 lead at the 5:00 mark. The Pack went on an 11-2 run, making 4-of-5 FGs, before Pitt called a timeout with 4:19 left and NC State leading 68-63.

NC State never lost its lead the rest of the contest.

Up next, NC State will kick off a three-game road trip by visiting Wake Forest on Tuesday. The game will be at 8 p.m. and televised on
Raycom.