WRAL Sports Fan

North Carolina State University

State holds off Austin Peay, 66-59

By N.C. State sports information

Nov 21, 2009

N.C. State survived a late Austin Peay charge, as the Wolfpack improves to 3-0 on the young season with a 66-59 win Saturday night at the Glenn Wilkes Classic.

The Governor's cut a 16-point Wolfpack halftime lead down to just four points with 1:06 left, but the Pack's Tracy Smith converted a three-point play with 35 seconds left to cushion the Pack's lead.

"Sometimes with a young team you run into games like this," said N.C. State head coach Sidney Lowe. "I told the team its an art (to win a game), it doesn't just happen. We have to learn to play with the lead, and put teams away.

"We knew they would keep coming back, but down the stretch we got the baskets we needed to win."

The N.C. State offense did not get out to a strong start like yesterday, as the game was close until midway through the first half. With N.C. State leading 18-14, the Pack would go on a 10-1 run and increase a lead it would hold the rest of the game.

N.C. State would close the first half on a 19-7 run, limiting the Governor's to just three field goals over the final 11:50 of the half.

After committing 19 second half turnovers against Akron, N.C. State had just five turnovers in the first half against Austin Peay, and just 11 for the game.

Smith led the Pack for the third straight game with 16 points and seven rebounds. Dennis Horner scored 10 of his 15 points in the second half, and freshman Scott Wood hit a pair of three-pointers and finished with 10 points.

N.C. State, the only team with a perfect record at the Glenn Wilkes Classic, will face Auburn tomorrow night at 8:15 p.m.