When it looked like offense was hard to come by in the early going, NC State freshman guard<a href="https://www.on3.com/db/dennis-parker-34244/"> Dennis Parker Jr.</a> was there for the Wolfpack to keep the red and white close to Vanderbilt. 



The Richmond, Va., native scored 7 of the Wolfpack’s first 9 points, including a 3-pointer and a dunk, but then graduate forward <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/dj-burns-27521/">DJ Burns</a> took over in the paint. 



Burns helped spark NC State’s 15-3 run midway through the first half to pace the Pack to a 84-78 win over Vanderbilt in the opening game of the Vegas Showdown at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas on Thursday night. NC State improved to 4-0 on the young season, and it picked up its first Power Five win of the 2023-24 campaign.



Burns single-handedly sparked the first three buckets in that run with an outlet pass for a made 3-pointer by Arizona State transfer <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/dj-horne-144163/">DJ Horne</a>, an offensive rebound that led to a Butler transfer <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/jayden-taylor-58711/">Jayden Taylor</a> layup, and then he added his own layup to follow. 



The Rock Hill, S.C., native led the Wolfpack with 9 points, six boards and two assists in the opening frame, which set the tone for the red and white. He finished the night with 13 points, nine rebounds and four assists in the contest.



Taylor paced the Wolfpack with a team-high 18 points, while Parker tied him with a career-best night. The Wolfpack’s lone freshman recorded 18 points with nine rebounds, two assists and two blocks against the Commodores. Graduate guard <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/casey-morsell-19085/">Casey Morsell</a> rounded out NC State’s players in double figures with 12 points and five rebounds against Vanderbilt.



NC State took full control of the contest late in the first half as it built a 10-point lead and it dominated the paint — a 26-16 advantage in the opening period. The Wolfpack also started 2-of-10 from the field, but it closed the first half on a 16-of-23 shooting run. 



The Wolfpack’s second half was eerily similar to how it started the first 20 minutes. NC State began the period 1-for-10 from the field, but it soon turned things around. The red and white jumped out on a 17-2 run midway through the final 20 minutes to lead by 17 points. 



The key cog to the second half outburst was Taylor, who scored 16 points on 5-for-9 shooting from the field in the final 20 minutes. 



NC State shot 43% from the field for the contest, including 42% from beyond the arc. The Wolfpack forced 19 Vanderbilt turnovers and it scored 16 points off those errors. NC State’s bench, led by Parker, outscored Vanderbilt’s 30-20 in the victory. 



Vanderbilt was led by <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/tyrin-lawrence-118701/">Tyrin Lawerence</a>’s 21 points and seven rebounds, while <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/ven-allen-lubin-119387/">Ven-Allen Lubin</a> added 16 points and eight boards for the Commodores. 



The Wolfpack advanced to the Vegas Showdown championship game on Friday night at 9:30 p.m. ET against the winner of Arizona State versus BYU on ESPN2.

DJ Horne

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