North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Takes Win Streak To Boston College
2/27/2015 12:00:00 AM
| NC State (17-11, 8-7) at Boston College (9-18, 1-14) | ||
| Date | Saturday, Feb. 28 | |
| Time | 12 p.m. ET | |
| Location | Conte Forum - Chestnut Hill, Mass. | |
| Tickets | Tickets | |
| Television | Regional Networks (FS South) (Wes Durham, Jason Capel) | |
| Radio | Wolfpack Sports Network (Gary Hahn, Tony Haynes) | |
| Game Notes | NC State | Boston College | |
| Season Statistics | NC State | Boston College | |
| Live Stats | GameTracker | |
| Social Media | @PackMensBball  | Facebook  |
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Postgame at UNC
The Starting 5 - The Top 5 Storylines For This Game
1. WOLFPACK'S MARQUEE WINS
NC State has bolstered its postseason profile with wins over several marquee opponents. The Wolfpack defeated then-undefeated Duke 87-75 back on Jan. 11, and now it owns a pair of top-20 RPI road wins. Behind 21 points from Cat Barber, NC State ran past Louisville (RPI 19) 74-65 at the KFC Yum! Center on Valentine's Day. The Pack followed that with a rout over Virginia Tech and this week's 58-46 victory at UNC (RPI 16). The 46 points allowed at UNC was the lowest the Tar Heels have ever scored at the Smith Center. Overall, NC State owns five wins over the ESPN.com's top 50 RPI and seven wins vs. the top 75.
2. THE (THIRD) BEST AROUND
According to ESPN.com's Daily RPI, NC State has played the nation's third-toughest schedule. Only Big 12 leader Kansas and ACC rival UNC-Chapel Hill have played a more challenging schedule than NC State. After 15 ACC games, NC State's conference strength of schedule is No. 5 in the country. The Pack has played 11 games against the current top 50 of the RPI, which is tied for third-most in the ACC. Overall, the Wolfpack has seven wins against top 75 teams (Duke, Louisville, Boise State, Pitt, Louisiana Tech, Richmond and UNC-CH) and nine of NC State's 11 losses are to teams in the top 70 of the RPI.
3. PERIMETER POWER
There's no question NC State is led by its starting perimeter players Trevor Lacey, Ralston Turner and Cat Barber. The trio combines to average 41.0 points per game on .439 shooting with 10.8 rebounds per game. The Wolfpack is 7-2 this season when all three of those players scores in double figures, including the last three games. The Pack also owns an 8-1 record when Lacey, Turner and Barber combine for 45 points.
4. GETTING DEFENSIVE
NC State's defensive effort in Chapel Hill this week was historic. The Wolfpack suffocated the Tar Heels, allowing them just 46 points on .345 shooting. NC State allowed its rival just 18 first-half points and seven first-half field goals. That performance came after NC State held Virginia Tech to 53 points on Feb. 21. In its win at Louisville on Feb. 14, NC State limited the Cardinals to .328 shooting in a 74-65 victory. Over the last three games, NC State is allowing 54.7 points per game while holding opponents to .372 shooting.
5. RALSTON'S RESURGENCE
In the four games from Jan. 28 through Feb. 11, Ralston Turner averaged 9.3 points on 11-for-43 shooting. Turner has surged since then, averaging 14.0 points on 15-for-29 shooting in NC State's last three victories. Turner has shot 4-for-8 from 3-point range in each of the last two games, and his clutch trey with 5:06 left in the game at Chapel Hill stopped a 14-2 run against the Wolfpack.
