Disappointing NC State Wolfpack loss to Clemson 68-57

North Carolina State’s NCAA Tournament hopes may have been flushed with a disappointing loss to the Clemson Tigers 68-57 last night a PNC Arena.  The Wolfpack could ill afford to lose another home game, much less to one against a bottom half conference foe.

The NC State turned the ball over early and often (5 times in the first 8 minutes) enabling the Tigers to open up a 16-6 lead on the heels of a 5 minute Wolfpack scoring drought.  Clemson scored 9 points off the turnovers and led by as much as 23 points in the first half.

Jan 28, 2015; Raleigh, NC, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Ralston Turner (22) grabs a loose ball in front of Clemson Tigers forward Donte Grantham (15) and guard Damarcus Harrison (21) during the second half at PNC Arena. The Tigers won 68-57. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

Halftime:  Clemson  36 – NC State 16

In the end, the first half hole the Pack dug for themselves was too much to overcome.  On the back of Clemson’s Jordan Roper and his 18 points, the Tigers were able to fend off a furious second half rally by the Wolfpack that would see the lead cut to 3 points at 47-44 with 9 minutes remaining.

The Pack would get no closer.

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Clemson (12-8, 4-4) would get their second wind and as Roper put it, ‘”Coach Brownell told us they’d make a run and we’d have to absorb the punch.  That’s what we did. We stayed mentally tough and knew we would get through it.”

The NC State Wolfpack (13-9, 4-5) is left to wonder what if…    What if they had completed the comeback just as Notre Dame had done to them four days earlier.  On Saturday the Wolfpack faces a resurgent Georgia Tech team fresh off a blowout win in Miami…one week after an embarrassing 28 point performance against Virgina.  So there is hope for the Wolfpack.

Jan 28, 2015; Raleigh, NC, USA; Clemson Tigers guard Damarcus Harrison (21) lays the ball up over North Carolina State Wolfpack forward Lennard Freeman (10) during the second half at PNC Arena. The Tigers won 68-57. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

FINAL:  Clemson 68  – NC State  57
QUICK  STATS

Abdul-Malik Abu- 15 points, 12 rebounds, 1 block

Trevor Lacey- 17 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists

Ralston Turner- 10 points, 4 rebounds

Caleb Martin – 4 points, 3 rebounds

Cody Martin- 0 points, 5 rebounds

Lennard Freeman- 1 point, 6 rebounds
Notables:

• NC State shot 6-26 in the first half (23.1%)
• NC State shot 18-63 for the game (28.6%)
• NC State out-rebounded Clemson 45-37
• Mark Gottfried is 83-47 in his 4th season as NC State head coach
• 15,866 in attendance

UP NEXT for the Wolfpack:

at Georgia Tech– January 31, 2015 @ 12:00pm

TV: ACC Network