Wolfpack Dispatches Presbyterian, 81-72

Courtesy GoPack.com

RALEIGH, N.C. – The NC State men’s basketball team never trailed in pushing past Presbyterian, 81-72, Friday night at the Lenovo Center.

The Pack never trailed the Blue Hose, but could never put pull away either. NC State led by seven at the half and after Presbyterian scored on its first possession of the final 20 minutes to get within five, the Pack quickly pushed the lead out to double digits, and kept its advantage between eight and 15 points the rest of the way.

Jayden Taylor led four players in double figures with 19 points and had a career-high five steals. Ben Middlebrooks added 16 – all in the second half – while Brandon Huntley-Hatfield and Michael O’Connell each added 11.

Huntley-Hatfield led the Pack with seven rebounds.

The Pack took its largest lead of the first half, 34-20, on a Taylor fastbreak lay-up with 4:20 remaining in the opening period, but Presbyterian closed the half on an 11-4 run to cut the Pack’s lead to seven, 38-31, at the intermission.

The Pack’s largest lead of the game was 15 points midway through the second half, but the Blue Hose had an answer to keep a faint hope alive every time NC State started to pull away.

NC State registered 12 steals that led to 27 fast break points.

The Pack also saw its two bigs (Huntley-Hatfield and Middlebrooks) combine for 27 points on 11-of-13 shooting.

Kory Mincy led Presbyterian with 28 points while Kobe Stewart added 20.

The Pack returns to action Wednesday evening when it hosts Coastal Carolina at the Lenovo Center. Tipoff against the Chanticleers is 7 p.m. and the game will be streamed on ACC Network Extra.