NC State defeats Texas Southern 108-72
NC State Dominates Texas Southern in 36-Point Blowout
Reynolds Coliseum played host to a statement win for the NC State Wolfpack on Friday night, as they cruised past visiting Texas Southern 108-72 in non-conference action.
From the opening tip, it was clear that this game would be a blowout. The home team came out strong, with Paul McNeil leading the charge. The senior guard poured in 47 points, including 11 three-pointers, to pace the Wolfpack's attack. McNeil also chipped in with 10 rebounds and a steal, making him the undisputed leader of both sides.
Texas Southern, meanwhile, struggled to find its footing. Zaire Hayes led the way for the Panthers, scoring 16 points on just 2-for-5 three-point shooting from beyond the arc. Troy Hupstead chipped in with 11 points and nine rebounds, but it wasn't enough to stem the tide.
The Wolfpack's balanced attack was a key factor in their dominance. They shot an impressive 51.0% from the field, including 63.0% from two-point range and 43.0% from three-point range. NC State also outrebounded Texas Southern 28-18 on the defensive glass.
The biggest margin of the game came midway through the second half, when the Wolfpack built a 43-point lead. From there, it was a formality, with Texas Southern trailing by as many as 36 points at one point in the fourth quarter.
Advanced Stats:
* NC State's eFG% of 63.4% and FT Rate of 40.3% were dominant marks, while their OREB% of 37.8% showed they were able to secure rebounds on both ends of the floor.
* Texas Southern's eFG% of just 43.8% was a major liability, as was their TO Ratio of 18.6%, which allowed NC State to capitalize on turnovers.
Key Takeaways:
* The win marked a statement performance for NC State, who looked sharp in a non-conference matchup.
* Paul McNeil's 47-point outburst was the most dominant individual effort by either side all season.
* Texas Southern's struggles from beyond the arc (21.0% 3PT) and on the glass (45.5% OREB%) made for a long night.
The Wolfpack will look to keep their momentum going when they face a tough test next week, while Texas Southern will regroup and look to bounce back from this blowout loss.