RALEIGH, N.C. — In an important matchup, N.C. State emerged victorious against Boston College with a final score of 70-62, ending their nine-game losing span. Jayden Taylor led the charge for the Wolfpack, contributing 19 points, while Brandon Huntley-Hatfield added 11 more to the scoreboard.
This win is vital for N.C. State, who improved their record to 10-15 overall and 3-11 in the Atlantic Coast Conference standings, lifting them out of a tied last place. In contrast, Boston College now holds a record of 10-15 and a troubling 2-12 in conference play, making it their fourth consecutive defeat and their tenth loss in the last eleven games.
For Boston College, Donald Hand Jr. was the standout player, scoring 22 points, with Chad Venning contributing 14 points. Reserve athlete Chas Kelley III also made his mark with 10 points. However, as a team, the Eagles struggled with their shooting, making only 35% of their attempts with 17 successful baskets out of 48 attempts.
N.C. State did not fare much better, shooting at 39% overall, but they capitalized on their possessions, committing only five turnovers, which allowed them to dominate points off turnovers with a score of 15-3.
In the second half, Boston College’s scoring was limited primarily to Venning (12 points) and Hand (6 points) during the first 11 minutes, allowing N.C. State to maintain a comfortable lead throughout the half. It wasn’t until a three-pointer from Hand that Boston managed to close the gap, bringing the score to 67-58 with just under three minutes left on the clock.
As the game neared its conclusion, Ben Middlebrooks scored inside the paint, followed by a free throw from Dennis Parker Jr., pushing N.C. State to a 70-58 lead. Boston College managed a few late free throws, but it was not enough to alter the outcome.
The first half saw Boston College struggle significantly, finishing with a dismal 3-for-13 shooting performance as the Wolfpack established a firm 44-29 lead by the interval, bolstered by Taylor’s impressive 16-point outing.
Looking ahead, Boston College is set to host Virginia Tech on Tuesday, while N.C. State prepares to visit North Carolina on Wednesday.
