NC State rolls past depleted Boston College, 81-65

Boston College’s prospects proved about as bleak as anticipated for a team missing all but a handful of scholarship players. NC State went on a 33-3 run during the first half to make things academic, and at one point led 37-8. There was a whole lot of garbage time in a game that was basically a scrimmage.

NC State played 11 guys—10 of whom scored—and nobody logged more than 26 minutes. After the Wolfpack held a 67-35 lead midway through the second half, Kevin Keatts mostly took out his starters and let his freshmen get some run. Nick Farrar, Jaylon Gibson, and Ebe Dowuona got some court time—Farrar and Dowuona hadn’t played since Jan. 13 at FSU.

So the Eagles closed the gap down the stretch but the result was never in doubt; the game definitely was not as close as the final score suggests. Hey, I’m just excited State finally won a game by double figures.

Shakeel Moore was outstanding, scoring 19 points on 8-12 shooting while adding six boards and two assists. DJ Funderburk went for 14 points and seven boards in 21 minutes, while Manny Bates had 14 and seven in 23 minutes. NC State shot 59% inside the arc.

The circumstances were unusual, but NC State needed the boost from a win today and I’m sure the players aren’t going to care that the Eagles were shorthanded. State needed some good news after a couple of tough losses.

These next four are gettable (Syracuse, Duke, Pitt, Wake), so let’s go see.