
Pack Travels to Virginia Tech for Saturday Night Showdown
1/6/2023 11:38:00 AM | Men's Basketball
NC State took down the Hokies last season at Cassell Coliseum, 68-63
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NC State Game Notes | Virginia Tech Game Notes
RALEIGH – The NC State men's basketball team (12-4, 2-3 ACC) is back in action Saturday night when it plays at Virginia Tech (11-4, 1-3 ACC).
The game is a Regional Sports Network broadcast. It will be televised in North Carolina on Bally Sports South. A complete list of affiliates showing the game can be found here. NC State fans can also listen to Tony Haynes and Jeff Gravley call the action on the Wolfpack Sports Network.
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Pack Tracks
- NC State dominated Duke on Wednesday night, knocking off the 16th-ranked Blue Devils, 84-60. The Pack never trailed as they scored the first 15 points of the game. The Pack led by 22, 44-22, at the half and Duke never got closer than 18 points in the final 20 minutes as NC State led by as many as 29 points in the game. The Pack's 24-point margin of victory is the largest for NC State since a 74-50 win over Duke on Jan. 7, 1978.
- NC State was led by the trio of DJ Burns (18 points), Jarkel Joiner (21) and Terquavion Smith (24) in the win over Duke. The trio combined to score 63 of the Pack's 84 points. In addition to his 21 points, Joiner passed out a career-high nine assists (and had zero turnovers). Burns tied his season-high with 18 points, shooting 7-of-10 from the field.
- The Pack forced Duke into a season-high 22 turnovers as NC State finished the game with a 31-2 advantage in points off turnovers. The Pack also outscored Duke, 29-7, in fast break points.
- Casey Morsell grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds as the Pack outrebounded Duke by one in the game. The Blue Devils entered the game against NC State first in the ACC in rebounding margin and leading the ACC in offensive rebounds. The Pack outrebounded Duke by one and also grabbed 13 offensive rebounds compared to just nine for Duke.
- NC State had two starters make their first starts of the season on Wednesday in Ebenezer Dowuona and Greg Gantt. Gantt had only appeared in five games this season before Wednesday, but played 30 minutes against Duke, chipping in four points, five rebounds, three steals and two blocks in the win.
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Saturday Storylines
- Terquavion Smith One of the Best Pure Scorers in Program History: Smith led NC State with 24 points against Duke. Smith has scored in double figures in all 16 games this season and now has five 20+-point performances this season. The Greenville, N.C., native ranks second in the ACC in scoring at 18.4 points per game. Smith has now played in 48 career games and his scoring average of 16.8 points per game is the eighth-highest scoring average in NC State program history. Of the top-15 players in NC State's career scoring average only four have played since NC State's all-time leading scorer, Rodney Monroe, graduated in 1991. (TJ Warren - 18.5 ppg., 2012-14; Terquavion Smith - 17.0 ppg., 2021-pres.; Julius Hodge - 15.8 ppg., 2002-05; and Cat Barber - 14.5 ppg., 2013-16).
- Smith and Joiner Having Career Years in Sharing the Ball: The Pack's two lead guards - Jarkel Joiner and Terquavion Smith - have both already passed out more assists this season than either had last season. Smith leads the ACC and ranks fourth in the ACC with an average of 4.9 assists per game. Smith already has 79 assists this season in 16 games. Last season, he had 67 assists in 32 games. Joiner has 60 assists in 16 games to rank 12th in the ACC in assists at 3.75 per game. Joiner ranks fifth in the ACC with a 2.31 assist-to-turnover ratio. In the last two games, Joiner has passed out 14 assists (including a career-high nine against Duke on Wednesday) and has zero turnovers. Joiner is playing in his fifth collegiate season, but this 60 assists this season are already the most he's ever had in a single season.
- NC State is 11-1 this season when it has 11 or more assists in a game. It is 1-3 when it has 10 or fewer assists.
- DJ Burns stepping in Mahorcic's absence: In the six games since Dusan Mahorcic was injured, graduate forward DJ Burns is averaging 13.5 points per game and 5.7 rebounds (including 2.7 offensive rebounds) per game. Burns is shooting 64.2 percent from the field (34-of-53).
- The Pack enters Saturday's game leading the ACC in forcing turnovers, averaging to turn its opponent over 15 times per game. Virginia Tech is second in the ACC in turnovers, averaging to turn it over just 9.87 times an outing.
- NC State leads the ACC in turnover margin (+4.25), steals (9.0 per game) and forcing turnovers (15.0 per game). The Pack is 8-0 this season when it forces its opponent into 15 or more turnovers and 9-0 when it has at least 18 points off of opponent turnovers. In the Pack's four losses, its opponents are only averaging 10 turnovers per game and NC State is only averaging 10.5 points off of opponent turnovers.
- NC State is 12-2 this season if it scores 70 or more points, but 0-2 if it scores under 70. Virginia Tech ranks third in the ACC in scoring defense, averaging to allow just 64.2 points per game. The Hokies
- NC State is 8-0 this season when it makes 10 or more three-pointers and just 4-4 when it hits less than 10.
- Pack has held its own on the boards: NC State has outrebounded its opponent in 11 of 16 games this season (NC State only outrebounded its opponent in 10 of 32 games last season). In the four games it has been outrebounded, Kansas, Coppin State and Clemson only edged NC State by one rebound and Miami finished +4 in rebounding in its win. NC State tied Louisville in rebounding. NC State is 11-1 when it ties or wins the rebounding battle, but is just 1-3 when it is outrebounded. The Pack ranks fourth in the ACC in rebounding margin at +3.63. It finished 14th in the ACC last season in rebounding margin at -2.8.
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NC State - Virginia Tech Series
- Saturday will be the 61st meeting between the two programs. NC State leads the all-time series, 41-19.
- Last season, NC State and Virginia Tech split their two meetings with each team winning on the others home court.
- Last meeting in Cassell Coliseum (Jan. 4, 2022): NC State held Virginia Tech without a field goal for over four minutes in the final five minutes to win, 68-63. Justyn Mutts gave the Hokies a 59-58 lead with 4:54 to go, but Virginia Tech wouldn't make a field goal again until 34 seconds were left in the game. Dereon Seabron posted a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds in the win. Terquavion Smith added 17 points and seven rebounds. NC State had 11 of its 14 offensive rebounds in the second half and outrebounded the Hokies, 21-9, in the final 20 minutes. For the game, the Pack finished with a 36-26 rebounding advantage.
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NC State Game Notes | Virginia Tech Game Notes
RALEIGH – The NC State men's basketball team (12-4, 2-3 ACC) is back in action Saturday night when it plays at Virginia Tech (11-4, 1-3 ACC).
The game is a Regional Sports Network broadcast. It will be televised in North Carolina on Bally Sports South. A complete list of affiliates showing the game can be found here. NC State fans can also listen to Tony Haynes and Jeff Gravley call the action on the Wolfpack Sports Network.
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Pack Tracks
- NC State dominated Duke on Wednesday night, knocking off the 16th-ranked Blue Devils, 84-60. The Pack never trailed as they scored the first 15 points of the game. The Pack led by 22, 44-22, at the half and Duke never got closer than 18 points in the final 20 minutes as NC State led by as many as 29 points in the game. The Pack's 24-point margin of victory is the largest for NC State since a 74-50 win over Duke on Jan. 7, 1978.
- NC State was led by the trio of DJ Burns (18 points), Jarkel Joiner (21) and Terquavion Smith (24) in the win over Duke. The trio combined to score 63 of the Pack's 84 points. In addition to his 21 points, Joiner passed out a career-high nine assists (and had zero turnovers). Burns tied his season-high with 18 points, shooting 7-of-10 from the field.
- The Pack forced Duke into a season-high 22 turnovers as NC State finished the game with a 31-2 advantage in points off turnovers. The Pack also outscored Duke, 29-7, in fast break points.
- Casey Morsell grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds as the Pack outrebounded Duke by one in the game. The Blue Devils entered the game against NC State first in the ACC in rebounding margin and leading the ACC in offensive rebounds. The Pack outrebounded Duke by one and also grabbed 13 offensive rebounds compared to just nine for Duke.
- NC State had two starters make their first starts of the season on Wednesday in Ebenezer Dowuona and Greg Gantt. Gantt had only appeared in five games this season before Wednesday, but played 30 minutes against Duke, chipping in four points, five rebounds, three steals and two blocks in the win.
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Saturday Storylines
- Terquavion Smith One of the Best Pure Scorers in Program History: Smith led NC State with 24 points against Duke. Smith has scored in double figures in all 16 games this season and now has five 20+-point performances this season. The Greenville, N.C., native ranks second in the ACC in scoring at 18.4 points per game. Smith has now played in 48 career games and his scoring average of 16.8 points per game is the eighth-highest scoring average in NC State program history. Of the top-15 players in NC State's career scoring average only four have played since NC State's all-time leading scorer, Rodney Monroe, graduated in 1991. (TJ Warren - 18.5 ppg., 2012-14; Terquavion Smith - 17.0 ppg., 2021-pres.; Julius Hodge - 15.8 ppg., 2002-05; and Cat Barber - 14.5 ppg., 2013-16).
- Smith and Joiner Having Career Years in Sharing the Ball: The Pack's two lead guards - Jarkel Joiner and Terquavion Smith - have both already passed out more assists this season than either had last season. Smith leads the ACC and ranks fourth in the ACC with an average of 4.9 assists per game. Smith already has 79 assists this season in 16 games. Last season, he had 67 assists in 32 games. Joiner has 60 assists in 16 games to rank 12th in the ACC in assists at 3.75 per game. Joiner ranks fifth in the ACC with a 2.31 assist-to-turnover ratio. In the last two games, Joiner has passed out 14 assists (including a career-high nine against Duke on Wednesday) and has zero turnovers. Joiner is playing in his fifth collegiate season, but this 60 assists this season are already the most he's ever had in a single season.
- NC State is 11-1 this season when it has 11 or more assists in a game. It is 1-3 when it has 10 or fewer assists.
- DJ Burns stepping in Mahorcic's absence: In the six games since Dusan Mahorcic was injured, graduate forward DJ Burns is averaging 13.5 points per game and 5.7 rebounds (including 2.7 offensive rebounds) per game. Burns is shooting 64.2 percent from the field (34-of-53).
- The Pack enters Saturday's game leading the ACC in forcing turnovers, averaging to turn its opponent over 15 times per game. Virginia Tech is second in the ACC in turnovers, averaging to turn it over just 9.87 times an outing.
- NC State leads the ACC in turnover margin (+4.25), steals (9.0 per game) and forcing turnovers (15.0 per game). The Pack is 8-0 this season when it forces its opponent into 15 or more turnovers and 9-0 when it has at least 18 points off of opponent turnovers. In the Pack's four losses, its opponents are only averaging 10 turnovers per game and NC State is only averaging 10.5 points off of opponent turnovers.
- NC State is 12-2 this season if it scores 70 or more points, but 0-2 if it scores under 70. Virginia Tech ranks third in the ACC in scoring defense, averaging to allow just 64.2 points per game. The Hokies
- NC State is 8-0 this season when it makes 10 or more three-pointers and just 4-4 when it hits less than 10.
- Pack has held its own on the boards: NC State has outrebounded its opponent in 11 of 16 games this season (NC State only outrebounded its opponent in 10 of 32 games last season). In the four games it has been outrebounded, Kansas, Coppin State and Clemson only edged NC State by one rebound and Miami finished +4 in rebounding in its win. NC State tied Louisville in rebounding. NC State is 11-1 when it ties or wins the rebounding battle, but is just 1-3 when it is outrebounded. The Pack ranks fourth in the ACC in rebounding margin at +3.63. It finished 14th in the ACC last season in rebounding margin at -2.8.
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NC State - Virginia Tech Series
- Saturday will be the 61st meeting between the two programs. NC State leads the all-time series, 41-19.
- Last season, NC State and Virginia Tech split their two meetings with each team winning on the others home court.
- Last meeting in Cassell Coliseum (Jan. 4, 2022): NC State held Virginia Tech without a field goal for over four minutes in the final five minutes to win, 68-63. Justyn Mutts gave the Hokies a 59-58 lead with 4:54 to go, but Virginia Tech wouldn't make a field goal again until 34 seconds were left in the game. Dereon Seabron posted a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds in the win. Terquavion Smith added 17 points and seven rebounds. NC State had 11 of its 14 offensive rebounds in the second half and outrebounded the Hokies, 21-9, in the final 20 minutes. For the game, the Pack finished with a 36-26 rebounding advantage.
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Players Mentioned
Will Wade Press Conference (Sept, 22, 2025)
Monday, September 22
Will Wade Summer Press Conference
Wednesday, July 09
Will Wade on ACC PM
Wednesday, May 14
Coach Will Wade Chats with Matt Chazanow and Jeff Gravley
Wednesday, March 26