Louisville Dominates NC State in Raleigh

RALEIGH – The NC State men’s basketball team fell to Louisville, 91-66, on Wednesday night at the Lenovo Center.

The 91 points were the most allowed by NC State this season as Louisville’s field goal percentage (63.6%) and three-point field goal percentage (57.9%) were both season-highs for an NC State opponent.

NC State’s bench scored 41 points in the loss as the Pack had three players reach double figures off the bench in Trey Parker (13), Breon Pass (12) and Paul McNeil (12).

Parker has now led NC State in scoring in back-to-back games while Pass’ 12 points are the most of his career against an ACC opponent and McNeil’s 12-point effort was the first double-digit scoring game of his young career.

Marcus Hill also reached double figures, scoring 10 points as he has now scored in double figures in 15 of the last 17 games. During the second half, Hill scored the 1,000th career point of his DI collegiate career in just his 58th game at the Division I level.

Brandon Huntley-Hatfield returned to the NC State lineup after missing the last three games and pulled down a season-high 10 rebounds, including seven offensive rebounds which marked a career-high for the senior.

Louisville jumped out to an 11-3 lead and eventually led by as many as 17 points, 28-11, with 8:43 left in the opening half. The Pack went on a run, closing within nine, 36-27, with a little over one minute left in the half, but Louisville scored the final five points before the break to take a 41-27 lead into the halftime locker room.

NC State never got closer than 13 points in the second half.

Louisville was led by Terrence Edwards, Jr., and Reyne Smith who each scored 21 points.

The Cardinals finished the game 46-16 advantage in points in the paint and also outscored the Pack, 21-10, in fast break points.

NC State returns to action Saturday when it hosts Boston College at the Lenovo Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.