If you paid to get into the game, you got your money’s worth. It took four overtimes, but the NC State Wolfpack prevailed 104-100 over the Nebraska Huskers Wednesday night inside PNC Arena.
It was a sloppy start for both teams with four combined turnovers early. NC State (6-1) made the best of those miscues – taking an early 11-5 lead in the first four minutes of play. The Huskers settled in to trim the Wolfpack lead to 13-12 at the 11:55 media timeout.
Terquavion Smith started a run of three’s as Casey Morsell followed with his second three of the half to give the Wolfpack a 23-14 lead. A 9-4 run from Nebraska (5-3) made the score 27-23 with 7:32 left in the first half. The Huskers tied the game at 27 all with a fast-break layup with 6:00 on the clock. A rare four-point play for the Huskers gave them their first lead since 2-0 at 33-31 with 4:55 left in the opening half.
The Huskers pulled in front 37-33 before Ernest Ross tied the game at 37-37 with just over a minute left in the half. Free throws from both squads made the score 39-38 at halftime in favor of Nebraska.
The Huskers came out of the locker room on a mission to start the second half as they opened up their lead to 47-40 forcing a timeout with 17:11 left by Kevin Keatts. A long field goal drought ensued for the Wolfpack allowing the Nebraska lead to grow to double digits at 54-44 with 13 minutes left in the game.
Dereon Seabron connected on back-to-back baskets for the Wolfpack to trim the Nebraska lead to 61-51 with just over nine minutes left. Seabron would go down with an injury on the next offensive possession. Cam Hayes took over on offense cutting the Wolfpack deficit to 61-56 on his own before Morsell added a basket to make the score 61-58 with 6:40 left in regulation.
Cole Hellems tied the game at 61-61 with 6:09 left in the game leading to a Huskers timeout. With both teams heading towards the bench, a small skirmish broke out with the officials having to separate both teams before things got worst. Three Nebraska players were ejected along with Cam Hayes for NC State.
The Wolfpack took a brief 64-63 lead before another three from Tominaka made the score 66-64. Seabron came back into the game a gave the much-needed spark the Wolfpack needed with his drive and dunk giving NC State a 69-68 lead with 1:50 left . After two missed free throws and a missed jumper from State, Nebraska retook the lead with a layup from Verge Jr making the score 70-69 with 16.6 on the clock. Seabron headed to the line with 7.2 left. He split the pair at the line tying the score at 70. Nebraska got one last shot at the buzzer but missed sending the game into overtime.
The overtime started with neither team scoring the first four minutes until the Huskers got a basket inside with 59 seconds left. Seabron tied the game at 72 before Nebraksa answered. Seabron again tied the game at 74 with two free throws left and 16.4 on the clock in OT. The Huskers buzzer-beater was no good again sending us to double overtime.
Nebraska jumped out to an 81-76 lead with 2:22 left in the second extra period. Hellems was fouled shooting a three but only made two free throws cutting the Huskers lead to 81-78. Both teams traded shots afterward before NC State got a needed stop with 10.6 left calling a timeout. Seabron gave the Wolfpack a 86-85 lead. A foul with 2.6 left sent Nebraska to the free-throw line. The Huskers split tying the game at 86-86. Smith’s halfcourt heave went off the back of the rim sending the game to overtime number three.
The Huskers again opened up a lead this time 92-88 with just over two minutes left in the third overtime. Thomas Allen cut the lead to 92-90 with two free throws. Dowuona tied the game at 92 with a putback with 10 seconds left. Nebraska drove the length of the floor coming up short. Breon Pass’s shot at the buzzer was no good sending us to yet another five minutes of basketball.
This time NC State jumped out ahead with a three from Smith. Thomas Allen provided a much-needed spark with a tip-in. With State leading 98-95 Seabron drove right finished with 46 seconds left giving the Wolfpack their biggest lead of overtime at 100-95. The Huskers would only get as close as 103-11 before Allen iced the game at the free-throw line ending the game with a 104-100 score.
Seabron finished with a career high 39 points and 18 rebounds while also setting the new scoring high in the ACC-Big 10 Challenge by a player. Hellems followed with 15 points while Morsell and Hayes added 14 and 13 points each. Dowuona posted 8 blocks topping his career high set last week against Lousiana Tech.
The Wolfpack are back in action Saturday as they open ACC play as they host Lousiville. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m. inside PNC Arena.