Pack Holds Off Georgia Southern, 81-79

Friday, November 11

Raleigh, NC

7:00 p.m.

NC State

1-0

Georgia Southern

0-1

Team	1	2	F
Georgia Southern	36	43	79
NC State	37	44	81

11/11/2016 9:49:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Wolfpack overcomes six-point second half deficit to win

The NC State men's basketball team opened its season with an 81-79 win over Georgia Southern on Friday night at PNC Arena.

Terry Henderson led the Pack's scoring efforts with 23 points, while Abdul-Malik Abu and Torin Dorn each recorded double-doubles. Abu, who recorded 14 double-doubles last scored, garnered his first this year in the opening game of the season as he scored 15 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Abu also registered a career-high six blocked shots in the game. Dorn posted 12 points and 11 boards for his first career double-double.

Maverick Rowan contributed 17 points and a career-high nine rebounds while freshman Dennis Smith Jr., scored 11 points and dished five assists in his first career game with the Wolfpack.

The Pack jumped out on the Eagles early as NC State had its biggest lead of the game, 25-12, with 10:08 left in the first half. The Wolfpack were still up 30-20 with 7:21 to go in the first half, but NC State would go almost six minutes without a bucket, which allowed Georgia Southern to end the half on a 16-7 run to go into the break trailing by just one.

The second half was back-and-forth until Georgia Southern grabbed its biggest lead of the game, 66-60, on a layup by Tookie Brown with 6:42 to play. The Pack scored the next six points to tie the game and turned up the defensive pressure as the Eagles went over four minutes without a field goal until a jumper by Brown brought Georgia Southern back within one of NC State, 70-69, with 2:41 to play.

NC State went on to seal the win at the free throw as they hit 9-of-10 at the foul line in the final 2:26 of the game.

The Pack is back in action Sunday at 2pm. with a home contest against the St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers.