How NC State snapped its 3-game losing streak with a win over Miami 

NC State graduate guard DJ Horne equated the Wolfpack’s three-game losing streak to being sick. The red and white needed to find the antidote to the illness that seemed to plague the Pack — and it needed to do so quickly. 

The Wolfpack slid in both the ACC standings and the NCAA’s NET rankings during the skid, and it eventually was able to emerge from the affliction. 

The Cary, N.C., native paced the Wolfpack to a 74-68 win over Miami on Tuesday night at PNC Arena with a game-high 24 points, which snapped the streak, and got NC State back in the win column for the first time in two weeks. 

Horne’s big night helped, but there were a couple of other things that NC State was able to control, and it led to a positive result on the hardwood. 

It started with a new-look lineup with graduate guard Michael O’Connell starting alongside Horne in the back court, which slid graduate guard Casey Morsell to the four-man spot on the floor. The new starting five allowed NC State to compete with Miami’s four-guard lineup, and improved its ability to shoot the three from all five positions on the court. 

That, coupled with a desire to do whatever was necessary to get the win, helped NC State get over the hump against the Hurricanes. 

“We have to protect home court,” said Morsell, who scored 17 points with a trio of three-pointers. “This game shows that we can play with a lot of different lineups. We had to show our versatility in terms of who we are. Credit to the coaches; they found a way to put us in a position to be successful.”

The starting lineup allowed NC State to limit Miami to its lowest field goal percentage of the season (36.4) while the Pack was able to knock down 42.9% of its three-point attempts with 17 assists on the night. Wolfpack coach Kevin Keatts was proud of his team’s response to adversity. 

It was the Pack’s first three-game losing streak since the end of the 2021-22 season, and only two scholarship players from that roster are still in Raleigh. The three losses were a learning experience for the Wolfpack, but it was able to shake off the rough road trip last week and turn it into a late-night win.

“We went on the road and lost to two teams that were 21-1 at their place,” Keatts said. “You can’t let that define you. In this league, anybody can beat you, and you have to have short-term memory. You have to try, as much as possible, to take care of home-court advantage. I thought we played desperate basketball like we had to have it, and I was proud to see that out of this bunch.”

Morsell thought the team brought a “sense of urgency” and said the Pack was able to knock off Miami by believing in itself. 

That belief appeared to be contagious in the locker room. 

“I think just staying confident in ourselves,” O’Connell said. “It’s easy to get down on yourself when you drop three games, and you’re not making shots. Just staying confident, getting in the gym and doing what we do every day — just relying on that makes it so much easier.”

Junior guard Jayden Taylor, who scored 12 points and logged a team-best 7 rebounds, oozed confidence when talking about the team’s approach to the Hurricanes.

“We knew we weren’t losing this one,” Taylor said. “Four in a row is crazy. That Syracuse game, that wasn’t even us. It wasn’t even a competition. We knew we had to win. It wasn’t even an option to lose, honestly.”

The Wolfpack positioned itself just three games behind the ACC leader, North Carolina, and within half a game of third place in the league. NC State has a lot to play for as it gets set for the final half of conference play, which includes two more home games before the Pack hits the road again. 

NC State was able to return to its locker room and celebrate with water being tossed in the air, a tradition for each win this season under Keatts. Just moments after the contest ended, the carpet in the locker room was covered in water, and so were many of the Wolfpack’s chairs in front of their lockers. 

It’s a feeling that the red and white wants to continue to have, but it knows that it has to come with its best each night. Its next opponent, Georgia Tech, upset No. 3 North Carolina while the Wolfpack tipped off in Raleigh. 

That will present a challenge but for now, the Wolfpack is focused on enjoying its ability to bounce back. Then, it will be full speed ahead of Saturday’s meeting with the Yellow Jackets.

“If we want to make a March Madness run and an ACC championship, we have to make sure we win games and do things the right way,” O’Connell said. “It’s great to get this win tonight and get the morale high.”