North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State
#7 North Carolina
Men's Basketball Falls at No. 7 North Carolina
1/26/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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Jan. 26, 2012
Chapel Hill, N.C. - A poor-shooting first half was too much for NC State to overcome, as the Pack fell at No. 7 North Carolina, 74-55, Thursday night. The Tar Heels (17-3, 4-1 ACC) limited the Pack's (15-6, 4-2) offense to just 25.0 percent shooting in the first 20 minutes, and held a 37-23 lead at the break.
UNC's size bothered the Pack all game, as UNC finished the game with a 48-26 rebounding advantage, outscored the Pack in the paint 42-20, and held a 8-0 edge in blocked shots.
"They're good at blocking shots," said NC State head coach Mark Gottfried. "They're bigger than we are. We didn't do a very good job of drawing fouls inside. I think that's where we got frustrated."
After missing all three of his three-point attempts in the first half, Scott Wood hit three three-pointers in the second half and the Pack's leading scorer finished with a team-high 11 points. Lorenzo Brown and C.J. Leslie both added nine points.
Richard Howell was limited to just 16 minutes, as he accumulated three fouls in the first half and fouled out with 8:38 remaining. The ACC's second-leading rebounder (9.4) was limited to just one offensive rebound, and scored 8 points.
Tyler Zeller finished with game-highs of 21 points and 17 rebounds for UNC, while point guard Kendall Marshall dished out 11 assists.
The Pack came out and scored on its first two possessions, as Howell drove the lane for a quick two, and then Brown hit a straight-away three from the top of the key. But UNC went on a 13-1 run to capture a lead the Heels never lost.
The Pack went 4:33 without a basket during that stretch, until C.J. Williams stopped the Pack's scoring drought with an and-one and then a three-pointer from the corner, to cut the UNC lead to 15-12.
UNC closed the first half on a 22-11 run, and took a 37-23 lead into the half.
Brown hit a shot from beyond half court as time expired in the first half, but before that shot, the Pack went 4:37 without a point and missed seven straight shots.
The Pack struggled on offense in the first half, shooting just 25.0 percent (8-32) from the floor. UNC countered with their inside game, as the Tar Heels held a 24-8 advantage in points in the paint, and a 29-15 rebounding edge.
"They took away one option and we didn't have the wherewithal to stay with our offense and really grind out good shots," said Gottfried."
Howell was forced to the bench at the 14:51 mark of the first half, after picking up his second foul on a charge. He reentered for less then two minutes before finishing the final 9:05 of the first half on the bench with three fouls.
The Pack came out of the locker room and got a quick three-pointer from Wood, his first basket of the game. UNC responded with a 26-6 run and pushed its lead to 31 points nine minutes into the second half.
NC States offensive production picked up in the second half, as the Pack shot 52.0 percent (13-25) from the field and 54.5 percent (6-11) from long range.
"I like my team," said Gottfried. "We have battled from day one, and I believe we will keep battling. Tonight's disappointing, we all agree, but we're a better basketball team than we were tonight."
The Pack makes a quick turnaround and returns to action this Saturday night, hosting No. 19 Virginia at 8:00 p.m.
