North Carolina State University Athletics
Pack Falls 72-52 to Virginia Tech
2/11/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BY TIM PEELER
RALEIGH, N.C – Virginia Tech junior Dorenzo Hudson scored a game-high 21 points to lead the Hokies to a 72-52 victory, their first win in Raleigh since 1917.
The Hokies (19-4 overall, 6-3 ACC) made their first 10 shots in the game, building as much as a 19-point lead midway through the first half. They never trailed against the cold-shooting Wolfpack, who made just 28.6 percent of its shots from the field and, for the first time in 21 years, did not make a 3-point shot.
Head coach Sidney Lowe's team cut the lead down to single digits in the latter part of the first half, thanks to a 9-0 scoring run during a four-minute scoring outburst. But the Hokies still led 34-23 at intermission.
The Wolfpack (14-11, 2-8) never found its range from the 3-point line, going 0-for-11 from beyond the arc. It's the first time in 654 games that NC State did not make at least one 3-point basket, dating back to a four-overtime victory against Wake Forest in Greensboro on March 4, 1989.
State's guards had a particularly difficult evening from the field, as the top four regulars in the backcourt combined to shoot 2-for-22 from the field.
"You have to shoot the ball to take pressure away from our bigs," Lowe said afterwards. "They know they are going to get their looks. We have to make some shots and better decisions.
"For me, it's personal because that is the position I played."
Hudson, meanwhile, slashed through the Wolfpack defense, making nine of his 13 shots from the field. Teammates Malcolm Delaney added 15 and Jeff Allen had 14.
"This team defies logic," Virginia Tech coach Seth Greenberg said. "We shoot 15 percent in the first half against Clemson, and still manage to win the game. Tonight, we give up 27 offensive rebounds, and still manage to win the game.
"We are a walking mystery."
For the Wolfpack, senior Dennis Horner had 13 points and a career-high 16 rebounds for the first double-double of his career. Freshman Josh Davis and junior Tracy Smith had 12 apiece for the Wolfpack.
The Wolfpack was hampered by several injuries and illnesses. Lowe said Smith was suffering from a stomach bug that caused him to throw up before the game and during halftime. He spent intermission getting intravenous fluids. He played 32 minutes in the game, but made just four of his 12 shots with seven rebounds.
Freshman Richard Howell, who was penciled for the starting lineup in place of Horner, suffered a significant cut as he came to the court for final pre-game warm-ups. He needed several stitches to close the gash and managed to play just three minutes in the game.
"We didn't have enough bodies," Lowe said.
But Lowe wasn't particularly pleased with the way his healthy players performed.
"I wasn't pleased with our aggression tonight," Lowe said. "They were much more physical than us. They're a very good team."
The Wolfpack returns to action Saturday, when it travels to Chapel Hill to face North Carolina in a 4 p.m. contest at the Smith Center.
You may contact Tim Peeler at tim_peeler@ncsu.edu.
