Raleigh, NC – The NC State men’s basketball (17-10, 9-7) methodically built a 12-point lead in the first half and Boston College never got within single digits in the second half as the Pack never trailed in beating the Eagles, 81-70, Saturday afternoon inside PNC Arena.
DJ Burns led four NC State player in double figures with a season-high 19 points. Jayden Taylor tabbed 15 alongside DJ Horne and Casey Morsell each contributing 13.
Michael O’Connell added six points, a career-high tying nine rebounds and six assists with zero turnovers. Mohamed Diarra tied O’Connell with a team-high nine rebounds while also adding eight points, two steals and career-high three blocks.
The Wolfpack used a smothering defensive performance in the first half to limit Boston College to just six points in the opening ten minutes and 26 points total for the half. The Pack forced the Eagles into 11 first-half turnovers, with NC State using its defense to spark a strong offensive half on the other end of the floor.
The Wolfpack saw Horne, Burns, and Taylor each reach double figures in the first half alone, with Horne tabbing a half-high 11 points and the duo of Burns and Taylor adding ten points apiece in the opening frame.
After carrying a 38-26 edge into halftime, the Pack pushed its momentum into the second half with the Pack opening the final frame on a 9-2 spurt and the Eagles never threated the rest of the way.
Pack’s lead stretched to as many as 22 points during the second half at 70-48, with NC State taking advantage of an 18-8 spurt that extended its already commanding lead.
Despite Boston College making four of the game’s last five baskets, the Wolfpack’s lead proved to be insurmountable as the Pack improved to 12-4 this season at home.
NC State returns to action on Tuesday, Feb. 27, in the first of back-to-back away games as the Pack will travel to Florida State for the sole meeting between the Wolfpack and Seminoles this season. Tipoff between NC State and Florida State is slated for 9 p.m., with the game set to be televised on ESPN2.