Ball Durham
Fansided

NC State continues dominance against Duke in PNC Arena beatdown

By Kevin Connelly

RALEIGH, NC - JANUARY 9: Head coach Kevin Keatts of North Carolina State University during a game between Notre Dame and NC State at PNC Arena on January 9, 2020 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Andy Mead/ISI Photos/Getty Images).
RALEIGH, NC - JANUARY 9: Head coach Kevin Keatts of North Carolina State University during a game between Notre Dame and NC State at PNC Arena on January 9, 2020 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Andy Mead/ISI Photos/Getty Images). /
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Final. 66. 434. 88. 442

The North Carolina State Wolfpack have experienced success against the Duke Basketball team inside its home building of PNC Arena and Wednesday night was no different.

Fans were anxiously awaiting Wednesday’s nights game between Duke and North Carolina State and dreading the potential result that has plagued the Blue Devils in recent years.

The worst nightmares of Duke fans came true as the Wolfpack drilled the Blue Devils in the first half on Wednesday night, leading by 15 points at halftime.

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NC State was playing for its NCAA Tournament lives and it showed like it as Kevin Keatts‘ team won just about every 50-50 ball and Duke could never match the effort and intensity the Wolfpack played with.

Duke started the second half with even less energy than it did in the first half, falling behind by 23 points, its largest deficit of the season.

The Blue Devils did very little right on Wednesday night, which resulted in a 88-66 loss to North Carolina State.

Duke never led in the game and shot 37.7 percent from the field (26-of-69) , 23.5 percent from 3-point range (4-of-17), and an atrocious 45.5 percent from the free throw line (10-of-22).

Tre Jones tried to will the Blue Devils back in the game but its deficit was too much to overcome as the sophomore finished with 17 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and two steals on 6-of-18 shooting from the field and 2-of-5 from 3-point rage.

Duke was able to get the NC State second half lead down as little as 11 points but the Wolfpack had an answer for the Blue Devils’ extended run.

Vernon Carey Jr. didn’t have his best game but the freshman recorded yet another double-double with 27 points and 12 rebounds but was one of the main culprits when it comes to the Blue Devils’ struggles at the free throw line, going 7-of-12 after missing five of his first six.

Markell Johnson and Devon Daniels led NC State with 28 and 25 points, respectively as the Wolfpack shot 45.1 percent from the field (32-of-71) and 66.7 percent from 3-point range (8-of-12).

Johnson was 5-of-6 from 3-point range after entering the contest as a 25.6 percent 3-point shooter.

Duke will now drop to 22-4 (12-3 ACC) and it tied with Louisville at the top of the ACC regular season standing and due to tiebreakers the Blue Devils slide down to second place, while the Cardinals regain its lead on the conference.

The Blue Devils will return to acton on Saturday night back in Cameron Indoor Stadium against the Virginia Tech Hokies at 8:00pm EST on ESPN2.

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