NC State Newsstand: Terquavion Smith explodes for NBA career-high in 9 minutes off the bench

It took former NC State guard Terquavion Smith six appearances in the NBA to find his footing with the Philadelphia 76ers. And on Saturday night, Smith appeared to be back in his Wolfpack form at basketball’s highest level.
The 6-foot-4, 160-pound guard scored a career-high 17 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the field, including 5-of-6 from three in just nine minutes on the floor. Smith added an assist and missed his lone free throw attempt on the night.
The undrafted rookie surpassed his previous career-best, which was a 6-point effort against the Orlando Magic that he knocked down two three-pointers in two minutes of play in his NBA debut on Jan. 19.
Smith is on a two-way contract with the 76ers, and earned his opportunity in the league with his performances with the Delaware Blue Coats, Philadelphia’s G-League affiliate. He has appeared in seven games with Delaware, and has averaged 22.3 points in 30.6 minutes a contest.
The Greenville, N.C., native has logged a 40.8% clip from three-point land in the G-League, which has transitioned with him to the NBA. He had a 40-point outing against the Texas Legends at the Winter Showcase on Dec. 22. Smith hit six three-pointers in his best professional outing of his career to this point and he shot nearly 50% from the field in the effort.
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NC State coach Kevin Keatts got the game ball after the win, his 200th has a college head coach.
Wolfpack wrestling made a compilation of all of its celebrations after it beat North Carolina on Friday night.
Quote of the day
NC State graduate point guard Michael O’Connell has been a steadying force on the court for the Wolfpack this season.
“He’s a guy that just calms you down,” Keatts said. “When I’m upset and everybody else on the floor is upset, the only guy on the floor that looks like he can win the poker game is Michael, and that’s what you want in a point guard.”
Today’s top headlines
Michael O’Connell’s addition to NC State’s starting lineup leads to a ‘smoother’ offense
Instant observations: NC State’s big second half leads Wolfpack over Georgia Tech