N.C. STATE WOLFPACK

N.C. State Wolfpack

N.C. State Wolfpack VS. Wofford Terriers

Wofford (7-2) at NC State (8-1)

GAME NOTES: With both programs on two-game win streaks, the Wofford Terriers and NC State Wolfpack will clash head to head in a non-conference matchup at Reynolds Coliseum Sunday afternoon.

In the team's season opener, Wofford dropped a 74-59 decision to Stanford. Since then, the Terriers have won seven of their next eight games, including consecutive wins over Presbyterian (66-45) and most recently, Florida National (88-57).

NC State won its first six games of the season - all in the comforts of PNC Arena in Raleigh. A 66-61 defeat against Purdue set the team back, but the Wolfpack got back in the win column against Wake Forest (78-65) and Charleston Southern (86-50) to move to 8-1 overall.

This will be the 12th meeting between the sides in the all-time series. NC State holds a 10-1 lead, which includes a 4-0 mark over the Terriers at Reynolds Coliseum.

The Terriers held strong defensively against Florida National in their last outing, limiting the visitors to just 34.5 percent shooting from the floor. Wofford put on a clinic offensively, with Justin Gordon leading the way with 15 points and nine rebounds. Lee Skinner and Derrick Brooks each added 13 points, while Spencer Collins contributed 12 in the lopsided victory. Jaylen Allen chipped in with 10 points off the bench as well. Wofford shot 54.1 percent from the floor.

Although Karl Cochran was generally ineffective against Florida National (three points), he still leads the team in scoring at 14.1 ppg, also adding in a team-best 6.7 rpg mark. Collins is the only other Terriers player to net a scoring total in double figures this season, contributing 12.0 ppg to the cause. As a unit, Wofford is scoring a respectable 70.3 ppg, while holding opponents to 58.4 ppg.

NC State employed a stifling defense against Charleston Southern. The Wolfpack limited the Buccaneers to 30.5 percent shooting in the game, as the visiting squad made just 2-of-21 from 3-point range. Caleb Martin and Ralston Turner each netted 17 points to pace NC State, while Anthony Barber contributed 14 points with seven rebounds. Abdul-Malik Abu added another 11 points in the winning effort.

Alabama transfer Trevor Lacey, who didn't play in the last contest against Charleston Southern, leads the team in scoring, netting 16.8 ppg on 51.1 percent shooting. Turner chips in with 13.3 ppg, and Barber adds in 12.1 ppg to round out the trio of double-digit scorers. The Wolfpack not only have a top-notch defense (59.7 ppg allowed) but they have shown they can put plenty of pressure on the opposing defense with a high-octane offense (76.1 ppg). The team is hitting a very respectable 45.5 percent shooting from the floor.

Wofford's record is certainly impressive, but the Terriers will soon find the level of competition they have played doesn't exactly stack up against a strong ACC program like NC State.

Predicted Outcome

NC State 78, Wofford 66