Competing in their second game with a limited roster, the NC State Wolfpack produced a better outcome – overcoming a slow first half to defeat Campbell 69-50 in their final non-conference tilt Saturday afternoon inside PNC Arena.
NC State improves to 4-1 on the season while Campbell dropped its second straight contest falling to 4-2.
Junior Cole Hellems led three Wolfpack players in double figures with 19 points and five assists. Senior guard Devin Daniels followed with 12 points, 8 rebounds while Manny Bates chipped in 10 points and six rebounds. Cedric Henderson and Gediminas Mokseckas paced Campbell with 10 points each.
The game started out with less than stellar shooting. Both teams combined for 2-13 at the first media timeout with the score tied at two with 15:56 remaining in the half. NC State pulled head 6-2 before a three-point play from Campbell put the Camels ahead 11-9 at the 12:47 mark.
Things remained tight as the score was tied at 13 all with 9:50 left in the first half. Campbell then went on a 9-2 run to open up a 22-15 lead at the 6:59 media timeout. NC State was able to trim the Campbell lead to three at 24-21 at the stoppage of the half.
A driving layup from Devon Daniels tied the game at 28 all before the Wolfpack retook the lead with a Dereon Seabron dunk with just over a minute left. Both teams went scoreless at the end of the half, with the Wolfpack holding a slim 30-28 lead at the break. Hellems paced the Pack at the half with 13 points. No other NC State player registered double-figure scoring.
NC State opened the half on a 9-2 run – forcing a Camels timeout with 17:45 on the clock. The game of runs continued as Campbell scored the next five points, cutting the Wolfpack lead to 39-35. NC State pushed their lead up to 10 at 45-35 just before Manny Bates picked up his fourth foul sending him to the bench.
The NC State run would expand up to 11 straight before the 11:53 media timeout, as the Wolfpack led 50-35. Campbell then went on a four-minute scoring drought which aided the 19-3 Wolfpack run with State leading 58-38 with 7:10 remaining in the game.
Both teams emptied the bench down the stretch as NC State cruised to the 69-50 non-conference finale victory.
NC State returns to action Tuesday night for their ACC opener as they host UNC. Tipoff is scheduled for 9 pm.