EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Down 18 points to Texas in the second half, N.C. State needed a break Monday night in the TicketCity Legends Classic.

The Wolfpack got one when Texas' leading scorer J'Covan Brown fouled out with more than 8 minutes left in the game. From there, State outplayed and out-hustled the Longhorns in an inspiring 77-74 comeback win.

With 16 points from a hobbled Scott Wood and 17 from C.J. Leslie, the Wolfpack (4-1) notched its first important nonconference win of the young season and first for new coach Mark Gottfried.

"This one helps," Gottfried said. "We're far from a great team so everything helps us. Every positive thing that happens is good for our guys."

Texas, an elite national program which has gone to the NCAA tournament 13 straight years, built a 43-33 lead at the half and it ballooned to 65-47 at 11:43 in the second half after consecutive 3s by Julien Lewis.

Gottfried called a timeout, and tried to regroup. Instead of sitting through a tough lesson, the Wolfpack rallied. Gottfried expected as much. Maybe not a 28-2 run, but that's what he got.

"I knew we were in trouble but, I liked where our guys were mentally," Gottfried said. "When (Brown) left the game, that gave us a whole new level of life and our players knew it."

Wood, who missed the previous game with a sprained right ankle, hit a 3-pointer to make it 65-52 before Brown picked up his fourth and fifth fouls at 8:25.

Brown was called for a reach-in foul on Leslie at 8:25 in the second half.

That was his fourth personal. When Brown, who had 17 points, protested the call, he was hit with a technical foul, which counted as his fifth personal.

"They didn't have any more scorers and we knew that was our opportunity to win the game," N.C. State guard Lorenzo Brown said.

Wood and Leslie made all four free throws to make Texas pay for Brown's fouls and cut the marring to 65-56.

State's defensive intensity picked up without Brown on the floor to lead a young Texas team. The Horns (2-2) shot 57 percent in the first half and 37 percent in the second half.

"I liked the way we picked up the intensity on defense," Gottfried said.

And Wood picked up the slack on offense. He buried a 3 from the left elbow to cut Texas' lead to 65-59. A key 3 by guard Alex Johnson, an alley-oop finish by Leslie, three Wolfpack free throws and a DeShawn Painter jumper later, State took a 69-67 lead, which it would not relinquish.

Texas got the ball after a Leslie turnover with 25 seconds left, down 77-74, but Sheldon McClellan missed a 3 from the left corner with 9 seconds left and Leslie corralled the rebound.

Leslie missed both free throws and Texas got one last gasp but McClellan's 3-pointer fell short at the buzzer.

Wood, with ice on his ankle after the game, reveled in the statement the win makes for the program, which is coming off a losing season.

"It shows the heart of this team and how much we care and how much want to win," Wood said.

N.C. State 77, Texas 74

Pctgs: FG .455, FT .750. 3-Point Goals: 4-12, .333 (Wood 3-8, Johnson 1-2, Brown 0-1, Williams 0-1). Team Rebounds: 0. Blocked Shots: 3 (Leslie 2, Brown). Turnovers: 11 (Brown 3, Leslie 2, Johnson 2, Harris 2, Williams, Howell). Steals: 7 (Williams 2, Leslie 2, Brown 2, Howell).

Percentages: FG .472, FT .760. 3-Point Goals: 5-16, .313 (Lewis 2-7, Holmes 1-2, Brown 1-3, McClellan 1-4). Team Rebounds: 1. Blocked Shots: 3 (Chapman, Bond, Wangmene). Turnovers: 13 (Kabongo 3, Wangmene 3, Lewis 2, Gibbs 2, Bond, Brown, McClellan). Steals: 6 (Lewis 2, Gibbs, Kabongo, Chapman, Holmes). Technicals: Brown.

Att.-NA.

Officials-Earl Walton, Ron Tyburski, Tom Regan.

Giglio: 919-829-8938