Mistake-prone NC State basketball falls at home to Boston College, 69-61
A 20-5 run by Boston College in the second half sparked the Eagles to a 69-61 win over NC State basketball Wednesday evening at PNC Arena in Raleigh.
When NC State senior forward Jericole Hellems made a corner three-pointer with 14:51 to go, the Wolfpack led 39-37. Over the next eight minutes, NC State would make just 2 of 6 shots and more notably have five turnovers as it fell behind 57-44.
Turnovers were a major issue throughout the game, with NC State totaling 18 in the contest, nine in each half. Boston College had a decisive 21-9 edge in points off turnovers.
NC State received a game-high 21 points from freshman guard Terquavion Smith, who made 4 of 10 threes and in the process broke the school record for most three pointers in a season by a Wolfpack freshman with 83. Smith sat a large portion of the first half with two early fouls.
Redshirt sophomore wing Dereon Seabron added 20 points, scoring 12 of NC State’s first 14 in the game, but he also committed a team-high five turnovers.
“We can’t win when we commit 18 turnovers,” head coach Kevin Keatts noted.
Boston College’s big men duo of junior Quinten Post and senior James Karnik also hurt the Pack in the paint. Post made 9 of 10 shots and finished with a team-high 18 points, while Karnik nearly had a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds. Post added two rejections.
BC also shot 52.8 percent from the field, compared to 42.6 percent for the Wolfpack.
NC State also may have received more bad news on the injury front. Fifth-year senior guard Thomas Allen went out with a foot injury, and Keatts noted following the game that he is concerned Allen may have torn his plantar fasciitis, which would result in Allen missing the remainder of the season.
The loss dropped NC State to 11-17 on the season and 4-13 in the ACC, while Boston College wins its second straight to improved to 11-16 and 6-11 in the league.
NC State is scheduled to host UNC for a 2 p.m. tipoff on ESPN Saturday afternoon at PNC Arena in Raleigh on what will be Senior Day.
The box score from the loss to Boston College is pictured above.
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