The NC State Wolfpack completed the season sweep of Wake Forest with a 50% shooting day including 42% from beyond the arc performance which led to an 80-62 ACC victory Saturday afternoon in Winston-Salem, NC.
The road win is the three straight ACC road victory for the Wolfpack which matches their longest streak since the 2001-02 season.
The Wolfpack’s impressive offensive half started after the first media timeout with Wake Forest holding a slim 7-6 lead with 15:25 left in the first half. Manny Bates scores inside to put NC State ahead briefly before the Demon Deacons answered pushing ahead 13-10 before Dereon Seabron tied the game at 14 all. Cam Hayes connected on a three-point shot to put NC State ahead for good followed by another three from Hayes made the NC State lead 20-14 at the 10:32 mark.
Cole Hellems joined the three-point shootout as his three-point shot extended the Wolfpack lead to 9 before DJ Funderburk’s first basket made the score 29-18 in favor of NC State with 7:46 left before the half. Braxton Beverly found Funderburk for a monster dunk to put NC State ahead 35-21 which sparked an 6-0 Wake Forest run to cut into the Wolfpack lead.
The run did little damage as NC State responded to push their lead back to double digits at 43-32 with 3:18 remaining in the opening stanza. Hayes gave the Wolfpack their biggest lead at 50-33 before heading into the locker room with the 51-35 lead.
Back-to-back baskets from Bates and Hayes gave NC State the 60-41 lead at the under-16 media timeout in the second half. Wake Forest outscored NC State 7-4 over the next stretch making the score 64-48 at the next media timeout. The Wolfpack remained in control on offense maintaining their double-digit lead at 70-51.
Bates later split a pair of free throws to push the Wolfpack lead to 75-51 with just over five minutes left in regulation. Kevin Keatts later emptied the bench with the game will in hand as the Wolfpack closed out for the 80-62 win going back over .500 for the season.
Five Wolfpack players finished the contest in double figures led by 14 points each from Hellems and Seabron which is a career-high from the redshirt freshman. Funderburk and Hayes followed with 11 respectively with Beverly rounded out the group with 10 points. Seabron also padded the box score with nine rebounds, four steals, three assists, and a block. Ian Dubose returned to lead Wake Forest in scoring with 14 points.
NC State returns to action Wednesday as they travel to Charlottesville looking to avoid the season sweep against UVA. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 pm.