Wolfpack Falls to 10th-Ranked Kansas

Courtesy GoPack.com

LAWRENCE, Kan. –  The NC State men’s basketball team dug itself into an early hole and 10^th-ranked Kansas was able to push back against every Pack comeback attempt as the Jayhawks won, 75-60, Saturday afternoon inside Allen Fieldhouse.

Ben Middlebrooks led the Pack with 14 points and eight rebounds while Brandon Huntley-Hatfield added 12 points. Marcus Hill also reached double figures, finishing with 10 points.

NC State had battled back from an early 19-3 deficit to trail by just seven, 48-41, on a Middlebrooks lay-up with 14:04 to go in the game. On the ensuing possession the Pack got a steal and had a chance to cut further into the Jayhawks’ lead, but Middlebrooks jumper was off the mark and Kansas made a three-pointer on its next possession to push the lead back into double digits.

The Pack never got closer than 10 the rest of the way.

Kansas jumped out to a 15-0 lead as NC State missed its first seven shots from the field. Dontrez Styles got the Pack on the board with a three-pointer with 14:20 left in the opening period.

The Pack settled in after a rough start though, going on a 9-0 run to get within seven, 19-12, with 10:03 left in first half.

The final 10 minutes of the first half saw the Pack unable to get any closer, but the Jayhawks were not able to add much to their lead as the two teams headed to the halftime locker room with Kansas in front, 38-30.

Hunter Dickinson finished three assists shy of a triple-double for Kansas as he finished with 21 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists. Zeke Mayo led the Jayhawks with 26 points.

The Pack came into the game fourth in the NCAA in fast break points, averaging nearly 20 per game, but was held to just three against Kansas.

NC State is back in action Sunday when it takes on Rider to close out the non-conference portion of its schedule. Tipoff against the Broncs is scheduled for 4 p.m. and the game will be televised on the ACC Network.