GAME NOTES: The Pittsburgh Panthers open their second season in the ACC, as they take on the NC State Wolfpack in a conference showdown on Saturday afternoon at PNC Arena.

Jamie Dixon's Panthers enter league play with a full head of steam, as the team is sporting a six-game win streak. In all, Pittsburgh posted a 10-3 non- conference ledger and enters off a 71-54 blasting of Florida Gulf Coast on Tuesday.

Mark Gottfried's Wolfpack have also had a strong season to this point, coming in with a 10-4 overall mark. NC State has already started its league schedule with a Dec. 6 victory over Wake Forest (78-65). However, the Wolfpack have split six games since that time and come into this game following a 76-60 home loss to Cincinnati on Tuesday.

This marks the 13th all-time meeting between these two programs. NC State has dominated with wins in 10 of the first 12 meetings. These two teams split a pair of meetings a season ago, each winning on the road.

The Panthers' win over Florida Gulf Coast was the 200th at Petersen Events Center. The 17-point win was fueled by three Panthers that notched double figures in the scoring column. Forward Michael Young led the team with 16 points. Guards Cameron Wright and James Robinson tacked on 15 and 12 points, respectively. Pittsburgh was able to shoot a sterling .538 from the floor overall, while forcing FGCU into 16 turnovers.

Pittsburgh shoots the ball at a nice clip, converting just under 46 percent from the floor, but that has only led to a modest 69.0 ppg. The defensive effort has been more impressive, with the team allowing just 60.5 ppg, while outrebounding foes by over six caroms per contest. Young leads the team in both scoring (13.8 ppg) and rebounding (7.9 rpg). Robinson is also averaging double digits in scoring (11.3 ppg), while both Jamel Artis (9.2 ppg) and Chris Jones (9.2 ppg) are just under that mark.

The Wolfpack have followed a similar blueprint. While the team is averaging 73.1 ppg, it is coming on an efficient .460 shooting. The play at the defensive end has been solid as well, holding foes under 40-percent shooting (.387), while maintaining a +7.4 rebounding margin. Alabama transfer Trevor Lacey has stepped into the role left by the departed T.J. Warren. While he may not make it two straight ACC Player of the Year awards in Raleigh, Lacey has delivered a strong all-around effort, with 17.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg and 3.5 apg. Ralston Turner (12.9 ppg) and Antony Barber (12.4 ppg) provide scoring depth.

NC State closed out the 2014 calendar year on a down note with a real clunker against the Bearcats. The Wolfpack got 15 points from Barber and 10 from Kyle Washington, but not much from the rest of the roster. Lacey was a mere 1-of-8 from the floor and contributed just six points to the cause, while Turner managed just five points in the loss.

The Panthers come in with some momentum and although winning on the road in the ACC is no small feat, expect Pittsburgh to get its second run through the league off on the right foot.