The North Carolina State Wolfpack picked up their fourth straight win on Friday with a 66-63 victory that knocked the Syracuse Orange out of their first Atlantic Coast tournament.
Newly named ACC Player of the Year T.J. Warren’s 28 points and eight rebounds for NC State were followed by Ralston Turner’s 3-pointer at the end of the fourth quarter, which pushed the Wolfpack ahead in front of the team’s home crowd.
“I just wanted to find open spots on the floor,” Warren said, via ESPN. “They’re very athletic so you’ve really got to think quick to get your shots up.”
The Orange’s C.J. Fair rallied in Syracuse’s last meeting with NC State, scoring a game-winning layup with under seven seconds remaining, but he could not deliver the baskets in Friday night’s matchup. Syracuse missed six shots during the final possession, including a failed 3-pointer attempt by Fair, to secure the loss.
NC State coach Mark Gottfried believes this game was a “golden opportunity” for the Wolfpack to better its chances in the NCAA tournament.
“I hope that we’re a legitimate contender,” Gottfried said. “We’re not the same team that we were in November and December. When you lose 80 percent of your scoring from a year ago, it’s going to take a while to figure yourselves out.”
Photo via Twitter/@theACCDN
