Tigers keep Wolfpack at arm’s length: 3 takeaways from NC State’s home loss to Clemson
N.C. State had plenty of opportunities, but it couldn’t capitalize. The story of the season.
It played locked-in defense for most of the afternoon, including a seven-minute scoring drought when Clemson missed nine straight shots, and held the Tigers below their season scoring average of 77 points. Except, as usual, N.C. State’s offense couldn’t get going.
The Wolfpack lost to the Tigers, 68-58, on Saturday at Lenovo Center, dropping its sixth consecutive game. It is 1-8 since Dec. 31 and has only won once in 2025; that was a one-point victory.
N.C. State (9-12, 2-8 ACC) played with undeniable effort off the glass for the second game in a row. That helped keep the Wolfpack competitive.
The team out-rebounded Clemson (18-4, 10-1 ACC), 21-14, in the first half and roughly a third came on the offensive end. With 3:43 left in the first half, N.C. State notched seven o-boards and held Clemson to zero. Marcus Hill grabbed one when he missed a shot and grabbed his own rebound under the basket. Jayden Taylor did the same later in the period.
Viktor Lakhin pulled down the Tigers’ only first-half offensive board with less than a minute before the break. N.C. State finished with an 8-1 offensive rebounding advantage.
In the second half, the Pack continued to fight for rebounds and finished the game with a 38-28 advantage. It out-rebounded the Tigers, 13-4, on the offensive end. Opponents had out-rebounded N.C. State in its last seven games.
This was a significant improvement on its season numbers. N.C. State ranks among the worst teams in the nation for rebounding. According to the NCAA, the Wolfpack ranks 319th in the nation and No. 16 in the ACC for total rebounds per game (32.3). It also ranks No. 340 in the nation and last in the ACC for defensive rebounds per game (21.8).
Clemson, however, averages nearly 35 rebounds per game and typically pulls down 11 offensive rebounds per contest.
N.C. State showed it can rebound well and has set a new standard for itself in that metric.
“It’s definitely a good silver lining to look at,” Ben Middlebrooks said. “The biggest … part of our focus has just been toughness. … A lot of teams will lose that. That’s the first thing to go when you’re in this bad streak like we are; toughness, the grit, the will to be out there and give everything you got every play. I would say that’s definitely something we are all, as a team, speaking into each other.”
Head coach Kevin Keatts said winning the rebounding battle was an emphasis, even though Dontrez Styles and Middlebrooks practiced in limited capacities because of flu-like symptoms. Keatts was also pleased with that aspect of the game.
“We really concentrated on, ‘You got to hit them before they hit you,’” Keatts said. “It’s a win in that area, in that category, because we have gotten out-rebounded.”
Unfortunately, the offense continued to struggle. The Wolfpack shot 23-60 from the field and went 4-13 on layups. It didn’t get many foul calls to help, either. This was the second time in the last three games that N.C. State has not eclipsed the 60-point scoring mark.
“We’ve got all the fight in the world,” Keatts said. “We just struggle offensively at times to get us over the hump, to win the games. We’ll figure it out. I don’t know when, but we’ll figure it out.”
Styles led the team in back-to-back contests. He finished with a season-high 24 points and five rebounds in the loss. His previous season high was 21 points, which came against Florida State. He was the only N.C. State player to finish in double figures. Jayden Taylor contributed six points, seven rebounds and four assists.
Chase Hunter led the Tigers with 20 points. Lakhin added 13 points and 11 rebounds,
“Losing is always disappointing. Just knowing that the guys that we have in here, we have a great group of guys that can play basketball at high level. Not getting the wins right now, yeah, it’s tough,” Styles said. “But I’m proud of these guys. We show up each and every day. We still work out the same, still practicing hard. Even though we are losing right now, we’re still working to get back on track.”
Here are three takeaways from the loss.
Treys for Trez
Dontrez Styles shot 4 of 6 from 3-point range in the Wolfpack’s loss to Duke on Monday. He continued his hot shooting Saturday.
The senior transfer started a perfect 4-4 from the field and 2-2 from 3 to record 10 first-half points. Styles also pulled down three rebounds.
He started the second half with a bang, as well. Styles knocked down a triple with 16:29 left in the game to cut Clemson’s lead to one point. The senior went 6 of 8 on 3-point shooting in the loss.
When asked what went into his performance, Styles said, “Just being confident, just trusting my work and my teammates put me in great positions to make shots today.”
Styles’ recent outings, especially from the perimeter, have been significant for the Pack since Breon Pass’ recent slide.
Pass has been N.C. State’s most consistent 3-point shooter all season and he remains the team’s leader in the category, but the fourth-year Wolfpack guard has struggled the past two weeks.
Pass is 0 of 4 in the last five games and entered the game shooting 47.1% from the perimeter. He was shooting 16 of 27 (59.2%) entering the North Carolina game on Jan. 11. Meanwhile, Styles is 13-25 (52%) since Jan. 15 and 10 of 14 (71%) in the last two games. While the Pack would like to get Pass’ shooting back up, it should be happy with Styles’ recent contributions.
Middlebrooks faces former team
Two seasons ago, Clemson came into then-PNC Arena and beat the Wolfpack 78-64. Notably, Ben Middlebrooks was on the other bench. He finished with 10 points and seven rebounds.
On Saturday, 764 days later, Middlebrooks did everything he could to lift N.C. State over his former team. He blocked two shots in the first half, dove for loose balls, tried to force an inbound turnover and made a few shots.
“He’s our energy guy,” head coach Kevin Keatts said last month. “He does all of that dirty work, and with him in the game, we’re a different basketball team, especially defensively.”
Middlebrooks transferred from Clemson last season after playing behind PJ Hall. He was a steady contributor during the 2024 postseason run and has developed into a consistent starter for the Wolfpack.
During Middlebrooks’ two seasons at Clemson, he finished with 137 total points (2.2 points per game) and 121 rebounds (1.9 rpg). Since transferring, his usage and efficiency have increased.
The senior is averaging a career-high 8.7 points and 4.5 rebounds per game in his two seasons. This year alone, Middlebrooks has 34 total blocked shots, more than he recorded in his first three seasons, and entered the game ranked No. 2 in the conference in blocks per game.
The senior transfer finished the game with four points, seven boards and three blocks. Middlebrooks showed toughness against the Tigers — his allegiance was clear — but the Pack couldn’t get it done.
“They’re a very tough team,” Middlebrooks said of any trash talk. “Just tried to lay it out there and let the work be done on the court.”
Pack struggles in limited appearances at line
Offense has not come easily for the Wolfpack this season at any point of the floor, and that includes the free-throw line. N.C. State ranks among the lower half of the ACC in free-throw shooting.
After its performance Saturday, the team could drop further in the metric. The Pack made 3 of 6 free throws in the first half. It did not get to the line in the second as Clemson was called for 10 total fouls.
N.C. State entered the game making 71.3% of its free throws, ranking No. 204 in the nation, on the season and 75% during ACC play.
With the expanded league, the ACC Tournament will not include all 18 teams. The Wolfpack is teetering dangerously toward missing out on the postseason, tied for No. 16. With multiple games with single-digit finishes, better free-throw shooting could push N.C. State into the field.
This story was originally published February 1, 2025 at 3:47 PM.
