NC State
5-1,0-1ACC
Little Rock
3-3,0-0Sun Belt
Pack Takes Down Trojans, 74-58
11/23/2019 2:48:00 PM | Men's Basketball
RALEIGH -- The NC State men's basketball team (5-1, 0-1) defeated Little Rock (3-3) 74-58 on Saturday afternoon inside PNC Arena for its fifth consecutive win. C.J. Bryce (18 pts.) led the team in scoring for the fourth time this season, and brought down six rebounds. Markell Johnson joined Bryce in double figures, contributing 12 points to the Pack's victory.
Jericole Hellems had one of the best all-around performances of his young career as the sophomore had career-highs in assists (6) and steals (4) while tying his season-high with six rebounds. The St. Louis, Mo., native added seven points. In the opening five minutes alone, Hellems had five points, two steals and one assist.
NC State started out hot in the opening five minutes of the first half, as all five starters scored to give the squad an early 12-4 lead. The Pack stretched the lead to 10 points, 17-7, on a Devon Daniels free throw with 12:54 left in the first half and Little Rock never got within single digits the rest of the game. The squad steadily increased its lead throughout the half, eventually reaching 24 points as NC State's defense forced 11 turnovers that led to 14 points. At the break, the Pack had a 39-21 lead while holding the Trojans to 27.6% shooting from the field.
Johnson had his lowest assist total of the season with three, but the three assists moved him to seventh all-time in career assists in NC State's record books as he accumulated his 431st, passing Curtis Marshall (430).
NC State's bench was a separating point on Saturday, outscoring Little Rock's 23-5, thanks to solid performances from Devon Daniels (9 pts.), D.J. Funderburk (8 pts.) and Pat Andree (6 pts.).
The Pack's defense held the Trojans to just 37% shooting from the floor, including 22% from long range. NC State finished with a season-best 11 steals.
Little Rock's Ruot Monyyong recorded a double-double (20 pts., 10 reb.) and Ben Coupet, Jr., posted 21 points in Saturday's contest.
Up Next
NC State travels to Brooklyn, N.Y. to take on Memphis Nov. 28 as part of the Barclays Center Classic. The game is set to tip at 4 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN2.
