NC State Hands Duke Its First Loss

Box Score

Really I could just go with this as the summary for today's game.

So that was fun, huh? NC State showed today why it can be one of the country's best teams, particularly in the second half. One key to State's ability to find some separation over the final 20 minutes was the defensive glass. Duke grabbed more offensive boards than the Pack had offensive rebounds in the first half, but in the second, the Blue Devils were limited to just two of 17 potential offensive rebounds. Richard Howell was huge in that respect, as he often is--the dude had 10 defensive rebounds in the second half alone.

Getting the rebounding under control was crucial, and NC State also finished the afternoon having made more than half of its twos, which is an impressive accomplishment against this defense. And the Pack made 20 of 23 free throw attempts. Sometimes it just all comes together.

Seth Curry was very good for Duke despite his injury, but the Blue Devils couldn't afford the combined 6-26 shooting effort from Quinn Cook and Rasheed Sulaimon. With Kelly out, that doughnut from the field by Sulaimon (0-10) hurt more than it might have otherwise, though they did get a solid effort from Amile Jefferson.

The Pack is now 3-0 in the ACC, and with UNC wrapping up a win at Florida State as I write this, there are now two unbeatens in league play remaining. (Miami being the other.) NC State enters a stretch where it will play two of its next three on the road (Maryland, Wake) with Clemson at home in between. If the Pack is going to solidify itself as a legitimate regular season ACC title contender, it's gotta take care of business in those three games.

But no need to worry about that right now, because wooooooooooooooooooooooo