NC State picks up much-needed win at Virginia Tech, 71-64

Box Score

It was just another day for T.J. Warren, who scored 16 of NC State's first 24 points en route to 31 on the game, which was enough for the Pack to fend off the pesky Virginia Tech Hokies, 71-64. Kyle Washington, who finished with 13 points, was the only other State player in double figures.

Based solely on the factors above, it doesn't look like a game that the Wolfpack led comfortably for significant stretches, much less a game that the Pack led from start to finish. But Virginia Tech finished -10 in the turnover category, which is a massive differential in a single game, and Tech also squandered a lot of opportunities at the free throw line, finishing 22-of-37.

Tyler Lewis was tremendous running the offense, and State turned the ball over just seven times all day. None of those belonged to Lewis, who had 11 assists in 36 minutes. He set up both of Jordan Vandenberg's baskets--two alley-oop jams--found Warren in the right spots, and generally played under control.

State had to weather a tough game from its shooting guards; Ralston Turner and Desmond Lee were a combined 2-of-15 from the field. The Hokies' zone delivered exactly what they wanted, and if you'd told James Johnson before the game that State would be 4-of-24 from three, he'd have taken it without hesitating and no doubt would have felt pretty good about Tech's chances.

But a good performance from Warren can make up for quite a bit, as we've seen many times in the past, and as was the case on Saturday.