North Carolina State University Athletics
Pack Battles Back to Take Down Puerto Rico
8/9/2022 6:39:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Jack Clark posts a double-double with 26 points and 11 rebounds
PARADISE ISLAND, BAHAMAS – The NC State men's basketball overcame a first half double-digit deficit to defeat Puerto Rico, 81-69, Tuesday afternoon inside the Imperial Ballroom in the Atlantis Resort.
The Pack and Puerto Rico were tied at 18 after the first quarter, but NC State was outscored 23-14 in the second quarter as Puerto Rico jumped out to a 41-32 halftime lead. A physical first half got the Pack in foul trouble as Puerto Rico had a 24-5 advantage in free throw attempts in the opening 20 minutes.
NC State quickly cut into the deficit in the third quarter, shooting 57% in the third to cut Puerto Rico's lead to three, 55-52, after 30 minutes of play.
Puerto Rico scored the first basket of the fourth quarter to take a 57-52 lead and the Pack saw its leading returning scorer from last season, Terquavion Smith, go down with a leg cramp shortly afterwards, but NC State could not be slowed. The Pack quickly regrouped and took its first lead since early in the second quarter on a Jack Clark three-pointer to give NC State a 60-59 advantage.
The Pack never gave up the lead as it shot 10-of-18 from the field in the final 10 minutes, including 5-of-7 from three-point range.
Overall, NC State shot 56.3 percent (18-of-32) from the field in the second half, including 64.2 percent (9-of-14) from three-range.
Clark led the Pack with 26 points and 11 rebounds. It was the second consecutive double-double for Clark after he posted a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds in the win over the Bahamas on Sunday.
The La Salle transfer was 10-of-17 from the field and knocked down six threes in the win over Puerto Rico.
Jarkel Joiner was next for the Pack with 16 points and a team-best five assists.
Casey Morsell scored eight of his 11 points in the second half
The trio of Clark, Joiner and Morsell combined for 12 three-pointers on 60 percent shooting from long-range. Smith added two more as the Pack hit 14 three-pointers in Tuesday's win.
Despite missing the final nine minutes of the game, Smith scored 12 points and added four steals, two assists and a block.
D.J. Burns scored eight of his 12 points in the fourth quarter.
Today's game concludes the Pack's trip to the Bahamas. NC State went 2-0 in its trip to the Atlantis Resort. NC State fans can get their first chance to meet the team on Saturday, August 27 at Packapalooza on Hillsborough St.
The Pack and Puerto Rico were tied at 18 after the first quarter, but NC State was outscored 23-14 in the second quarter as Puerto Rico jumped out to a 41-32 halftime lead. A physical first half got the Pack in foul trouble as Puerto Rico had a 24-5 advantage in free throw attempts in the opening 20 minutes.
NC State quickly cut into the deficit in the third quarter, shooting 57% in the third to cut Puerto Rico's lead to three, 55-52, after 30 minutes of play.
Puerto Rico scored the first basket of the fourth quarter to take a 57-52 lead and the Pack saw its leading returning scorer from last season, Terquavion Smith, go down with a leg cramp shortly afterwards, but NC State could not be slowed. The Pack quickly regrouped and took its first lead since early in the second quarter on a Jack Clark three-pointer to give NC State a 60-59 advantage.
The Pack never gave up the lead as it shot 10-of-18 from the field in the final 10 minutes, including 5-of-7 from three-point range.
Overall, NC State shot 56.3 percent (18-of-32) from the field in the second half, including 64.2 percent (9-of-14) from three-range.
Clark led the Pack with 26 points and 11 rebounds. It was the second consecutive double-double for Clark after he posted a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds in the win over the Bahamas on Sunday.
The La Salle transfer was 10-of-17 from the field and knocked down six threes in the win over Puerto Rico.
Jarkel Joiner was next for the Pack with 16 points and a team-best five assists.
Casey Morsell scored eight of his 11 points in the second half
The trio of Clark, Joiner and Morsell combined for 12 three-pointers on 60 percent shooting from long-range. Smith added two more as the Pack hit 14 three-pointers in Tuesday's win.
Despite missing the final nine minutes of the game, Smith scored 12 points and added four steals, two assists and a block.
D.J. Burns scored eight of his 12 points in the fourth quarter.
Today's game concludes the Pack's trip to the Bahamas. NC State went 2-0 in its trip to the Atlantis Resort. NC State fans can get their first chance to meet the team on Saturday, August 27 at Packapalooza on Hillsborough St.
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