Wolfpack Downs Harvard 78-77, Advances to NIT Quarterfinals

RALEIGH – The NC State men’s basketball team defeated Harvard 78-77 Sunday night at James T. Valvano Arena at Reynolds Coliseum.

The win advances the Pack to the NIT quarterfinals where it will meet Lipscomb on Wednesday evening. The game is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. inside Reynolds Coliseum.

Displaying a balanced scoring attack, NC State had five players record double digits. C.J. Bryce and Devon Daniels led the way with 16 and 14 points respectively. Markell Johnson (13), Braxton Beverly (10), and Torin Dorn (10) rounded out double-figure scoring.

With the Pack up two in the final seconds, Beverly forced a crucial turnover to give NC State possession. Bryce calmly knocked down two free throws after being fouled to give the Pack a four point lead with 7.1 seconds to play.

Rio Haskett’s banked-in a running three-pointer to pull the Crimson within one with 2.5 seconds remaining, but on the ensuing in-bounds play Harvard could not reach Johnson to foul him and he was able to dribble the clock out.

NC State’s defensive prowess proved the deciding factor in the contest, as NC State created 23 points on 17 Harvard turnovers. Tying its season low in the turnover category, the Pack took care of the ball, recording only seven turnovers.

Attacking the glass in the second half after being outrebounded 20-11 in the first half, NC State earned 14 second-chance points on 13 offensive boards in the final 20 minutes.

The game was tied at 61 with 8:53 to go, but the Pack scored seven of the next nine points to take a 68-63 lead on a Daniels lay-up with 5:15. Harvard would cut the lead to one point multiple times in the final minutes, but could never even the score again.

Beverly led the way for the team in the second half, scoring all 10 of his points in the final 20 minutes. After sitting out all but five minutes in the first half with two fouls, Johnson came alive in the second half with eight points in the first four and a half minutes.

Harvard held a 39-38 lead at the break, but never led by more than two points in the second half as a majority of the final 20 minutes was played with the score at a one possession game.

The game ended with 15 lead changes and nine ties.

Noah Kirkwood and Bryce Aiken recorded 19 points to lead the Crimson in scoring.

The Pack moves to 24-11 and Harvard finishes its season at 19-12.

Up Next
NC State will Lipscomb on Wednesday night at 9 p.m. inside Valvano Arena at Reynolds Coliseum.