Skip to main content
NC State

NC State basketball tops Georgia Tech, 78-66

MattCarterby: Matt Carter01/18/23TheWolfpacker
Screen Shot 2023-01-17 at 9.46.05 PM
NC State-Georgia Tech box score

NC State basketball was riding high with a three-game winning streak when the Pack traveled to Atlanta for a Tuesday night showdown against Georgia Tech, who was off to a 1-6 start in ACC play. Up next for the Wolfpack on the schedule is a highly anticipated rivalry showdown with North Carolina on Saturday.

Some would say Tuesday night screamed, “Trap game.”

Then word came down that junior center Ebenezer Dowuona would miss the contest after not traveling due to an illness. NC State basketball assistant coach Levi Watkins also did not make the trip. The Pack was already shorthanded with the losses of frontcourt starters Dusan Mahorcic and Jack Clark to injuries.

After Georgia Tech started Tuesday evening with an 18-8 lead, the fear of the trap game became very real.

But NC State responded.

A 12-2 run to end the first half gave the Wolfpack its first lead of the game and a 42-37 advantage at the break. NC State never trailed in the second half, pulling away for a 78-66 victory that improved the Wolfpack to 15-4 overall and 5-3 in the ACC. Georgia Tech fell to 8-10 and 1-7.

The two teams will meet again on Saturday, Feb. 4 in Raleigh for a 1 p.m. tipoff.

NC State was led by its star backcourt of super senior Jarkel Joiner and sophomore Terquavion Smith. The latter made 9 of 17 shots, including 4 of 11 three-pointers, to finish with a game-high 25 points. He also tied for game-high 5 assists.

A year ago in Atlanta, Smith had 26 points, making 9 of 14 shots, including 6 of 8 threes, in a NC State win.

Joiner would add 19 points and went a perfect 9 for 9 from the free throw line. He also had 8 rebounds.

Senior guard Casey Morsell added 12 points, but he filled up the stat line in other ways, too. He had game-highs 9 rebounds (including four on the offensive glass) and 3 blocks and also added a steal.

Fifth-year senior post player D.J. Burns Jr., starting in place of Dowuona, had 10 points on 5-of-10 shooting and added 6 rebounds and 3 assists. Sophomore forward Ernest Ross enjoyed a second straight good game, contributing 8 points on 3-of-3 shooting, including a three-pointer, off the bench before fouling out.

After Georgia Tech started the game hot, making 6 of 8 shots, NC State was able to cool off the Jackets. GT finished making just 39.4% of field goal attempts, and were particularly cold from beyond the arc, connecting on only 2 of 21.

The shooting woes for Georgia Tech extended to the free throw line. The Jackets went 8 of 19 at the line, compared to 17 of 20 for NC State.

Nevertheless, Georgia Tech did have a late opportunity to get back into the game. NC State was leading 63-57 when redshirt junior forward Greg Gantt’s baseline jumper was waived off on review for being a shot clock violation.

On the ensuing possession, Georgia Tech guard Lance Terry’s 3-pointer to try to beat the shot clock appeared to be partially blocked by Morsell, and Joiner was fouled on the rebound. Joiner made both free throws with 5:13 left. After the Jackets had an empty possession, Smith made a dagger three-pointer.

You may also like