North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State
Wake Forest
Wood Catches Fire as Pack Torches Wake, 87-76
2/4/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 4, 2012
Box Score | Box Score 
| Photo Gallery - Mark McIntyre 
| Photo Gallery
RALEIGH, N.C. - Scott Wood scored a season-high 23 points on a stellar 6-of-10 shooting performance from three-point range, launched NC State to a 87-76 win and a season sweep of Wake Forest Saturday at the RBC Center.
"Scott Wood was pretty good in just about every facet," said NC State head coach Mark Gottfried. "He defended well, gave up a couple of looks here and there, but mostly it was great to see him get in the groove where everybody in the gym started to think that every shot he took was going in."
The Wolfpack boasted four double-digit scorers, highlighted by Wood. C.J. Williams and C.J. Leslie each poured in 18, Williams on 8-of-13 shooting and Leslie on 6-of-13 including 5-of-7 from the line. Leslie bounced back in a big way after being held scoreless in the Pack's first meeting with Wake.
"We're all watching C.J. Williams have a sensational senior year," said Gottfried. "He's really improved and he's contributing in so many ways. He had a run there where he would come off a down-screen and find that good mid-range jumper, made some really impressive shots."
Richard Howell collected his ninth double-double of the season with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Lorenzo Brown scored 15 in the win while dealing eight assists to only two turnovers.
NC State shot 53 percent from three, going 8-of-15 for the game after opening with a blistering 6-of-10 performance over the first 20 minutes. The Deacs actually bettered that mark, combining to go 10-of-17 for a 58 percent clip.
After low-scoring affairs in each of the Pack's last three contests, NC State managed to get the game going at a more preferable pace, outscoring Wake 19-4 on the fast break.
Wake Forest hacked into NC State's nine-point halftime lead early, eventually tying the game 50-50 just before the 13-minute mark. State responded with a 16-5 run to stretch the lead to its largest of the game to that point at 66-55 with 8:40 to play.
Wake rallied to pull within five at 69-64, but the Pack answered once again, this time with an 11-2 run to put the game away. The Deacs wouldn't come within striking distance the rest of the way, as NC State ran away with an 87-76 win.
NC State opened the game by dunking its first three field goals to pull out of an early 7-2 hole. Leslie made a pair of free throws on a flagrant foul to give the Pack its first lead at 8-7 with 15:47 to play. Williams and Wood made back-to-back threes to extend that lead to 14-7 by 15:01. Wake raced back with an 11-4 run to even the score at 18-18 by the under 12 timeout.
With the Wolfpack leading 19-18 and 11:14 left in the first half, the Deacs made another charge, outscoring State 11-3 over the next 4:42 to take a 29-22 advantage. Wood answered with three-pointers on three-straight possessions to bring his first half total to five made from deep, and to push the Pack ahead 31-29 at the four-minute mark. After the final media timeout, State kept the momentum going from Wood's hot streak, finishing the half on a 20-4 run to take a 42-33 lead into the break.
Wood led all scorers at the half with 15 on 5-of-7 shooting, all from three. Williams joined him in double figures with 10 first half points. Howell finished with seven points and eight rebounds, and Brown contributed seven assists.
NC State travels to Georgia Tech on February 9 and Duke on February 16 before reutrning home to host Florida State on February 18 at 1 p.m.
