Smith’s Triple-Double Leads NC State Past No. 21/23 Virginia Tech

Wednesday, January 4

Raleigh, NC

9:00 p.m.

NC State

12-3, 1-1ACC

104

Virginia Tech

12-2, 1-1ACC

Virginia Tech

NC State

104

Smith’s Triple-Double Leads NC State Past No. 21/23 Virginia Tech

1/4/2017 11:04:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

RALEIGH, N.C. – The NC State men's basketball team powered past No. 21/23 Virginia Tech 104-78 for the team's first ACC win of the year.

Dennis Smith, Jr. recorded a triple-double with 27 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds, marking only the second time in school history a Wolfpack player has recorded a triple-double. Smith joins Julius Hodge in the elite club, who recorded his triple-double Dec. 14^th, 2002 against NC A&T with 11 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.

Historic night for @Dennis4Smith! pic.twitter.com/GABHOLZDNw
— NC State Men's Bball (@PackMensBball) January 5, 2017

The Wolfpack improves to 12-3 (1-1 ACC), while Virginia Tech falls to 12-2 (1-1 ACC). The win also extends the Pack's undefeated home record to 10-0 and gives the Pack its first top-25 win since defeating No. 15 Miami Jan. 30^th, 2016.

NC State's 104 points mark the first time the Pack has scored 100 points since it defeated ECU 100-66 on Nov. 19^th 2004 in Raleigh. The last time NC State scored 100 points against an ACC opponent was at home versus Maryland on Feb. 27^th, 1991 with a, 114-91 victory.

NC State once again had production from its depth, as the Pack outscored the Hokies 26-14 from the bench. Four players reached double digit scoring. In addition to Smith's triple-double, Abdul-Malik Abu added a double-double win 20 points and 11 rebounds. Terry Henderson added 22 points and Maverick Rowan scored 13.

NC State dominated the game down low, posting a 62-24 advantage in points in the paint and a 40-25 advantage in total rebounds.

NC State used a dominant first half to earn the marquee win, setting first-half season highs of 55 points and 69.7 percent field goal shooting.

NC State scored the first six points of the contest, but Virginia Tech would cut the Pack's lead to 9-8 with 16:05 remaining in the half before the Pack pulled away. NC State produced a steady 23-8 run over the next seven minutes to jump out to a 16-point lead with 8:38 left in the half. The Pack continued to pull away and entered halftime with a 55-30 lead.

The Hokies pulled within 15 points with 16:51 left in the game, but got no closer as the Pack dominated the contest down the stretch. NC State led by as many as 29 points, and eventually won 104-78 for the team's largest margin of victory over an ACC opponent since the Pack defeated Wake Forest, 76-40 on Jan. 14^th, 2012.