NC State basketball loses dogfight at Wake Forest. 3 takeaways from Wolfpack’s loss
The timing just didn’t seem very good for N.C. State.
Wake Forest had blown out Syracuse, then gone on the road and done the same to Georgia Tech. The Demon Deacons appeared to be a team feeling it, believing they’re jelling into an NCAA tournament team this season.
The Wolfpack, looking for a season sweep of the Deacs, got a season-high 31 points from D..J. Horne and led at halftime, but Wake Forest regrouped in the second half to win 83-79 in a tight game Saturday that was hotly contested, fast-paced and entertaining at Joel Coliseum.
The Deacons (16-7, 8-4 ACC) took an 81-79 lead on Andrew Carr’s inside basket with 18.1 seconds left. That left it up to the Pack to go for a tie or the win with a 3, and with the most dangerous player on the court with D.J. Horne.
But Horne, looking to score off the dribble, missed a 15-footer with three seconds remaining. The Deacs closed it out with two free throws from Hunter Sallis, who finished off a 33-point game.
“I thought it was a great college basketball game, a great ACC Tobacco Road kind of game,” Wake coach Steve Forbes said. “It’s how it’s supposed to be.
“I thought in the first half they sped us up, they turned us over, got out in transition and got the lead. In second half, we got better shots and our shot quality was a lot better. I thought the second half wasn’t about X’s and O’s. It was about being competitive. Just having some fight.”
It was another tough loss for the Wolfpack, which fell to 15-9 and 7-6 in the ACC, and next travels to Clemson. It was a chance for the Pack’s first Quad-1 win that would improve its NET ranking but it could not make the winning plays at the end.
The Pack did get big games from Horne and Mohamed Diarra. Horne was 13-of-21 from the field and Diarra came off the bench for his second double-double of the season with 13 points and 12 rebounds.
The Pack’s Jayden Taylor and Casey Morsell had another sub-par shooting game, combining to go 6-of-23 from the field. Taylor, who rushed some shots, was 3-of-15 in scoring 7 points - 1 for 8 on 3’s . Morsell worked hard to get his shots and hit a bucket late for a 79-79 tie, in but closed with 9 points.
Horne missed an open 3 with 1:26 left in regulation and the score tied, but Sallis then missed a short jumper with 1:05 left. The Pack worked the ball to D.J. Burns, who missed from the baseline with 38 seconds showing.
When the Pack beat Wake 83-76 last month in Raleigh, six technical fouls were called and State coach Kevin Keatts ejected. There was just one flash point Saturday, late in the first half when Horne and Wake’s Cameron Hildreth both were called for technicals after words were exchanged.
The Pack was called for 21 fouls in Saturday’s game and the Deacs 11 as Wake Forest made 17 of 21 free throws and the Wolfpack eight of 11.
Here are three takeaways from the Pack’s loss:
Hot hand Horne
When Horne is hitting his shot and doing this thing — he has a few different on-court celebration moves — the Pack is a hard team to corral.
Horne had it going in the first half. He hit eight of 12 shots in putting up 19 points, draining two of three from the 3-point line as the Pack took its 45-39 lead.
Horne likes to touch his forearm with three fingers after making a 3 – “Ice in the veins,” he has said. At Joel Coliseum, he also put his forefinger to his lips after one basket and appeared to blow a kiss to the crowd after another.
Horne also went into an all-out flex after another score, posing a few seconds for the TV cameraman.
By game’s end, Horne was 13-of-21 shooting, going 4-for-7 on 3’s .D
Diarra gives Pack lift
Diarra might be the most intriquing player on the Wolfpack.
Yes, he’s raw. But he’s big. He’s quick. He can jump, work the boards. He can even make a 3 — at times. He made two Saturday, giving the Pack a second-half lead with the second and finishing with 13 points and 12 rebounds
Not that Keatts wants the big man taking 3s. He’d rather the 6-10 junior stay around the basket, keep the other team off the offensive boards and then contribute offensively when he can.
Diarra nearly had a double-double in the first half – eight points and nine rebounds, He also had three assists, giving the Pack another big who can find the open man.
On one first-half, Diarra came up with a steal for a high-rise fast-break dunk. He’s capable of that.
Deacs’ season coming together
The Demon Deacons are looking more and more like an NCAA team.
The Deacs’ defense still needs work but has gotten better. Sallis and Boopie Miller give them a good-looking twosome who can handle and shoot.
Forbes has the ability to rotate bigs and get good minutes out of Andrew Carr and Efton Reid.
Hildreth is a bit of a wild card — he’ll take shots, good or bad — and Forbes can live with it. Parker Friedrichsen is a shooter who can knock down 3’s.
Again, it’s up to the Deacs’ defense. They tried a little of everything against Horne, including double teams, with little success.
The Deacons are 13-0 at home this season and the atmosphere at the Joel has been a good one.
“We’re a fun team to watch,” Forbes said.
This story was originally published February 10, 2024 at 6:15 PM.
