NC State tops Wake Forest, 90-83

That was a lot of offense.

If you like a whole lot of shot-making, then this was the game for you! NC State had to overcome another lackluster effort at the defensive end to begin the night and managed to do so by owning the middle two quarters.

The shoddy defensive play early let Wake’s Rylie Theuerkauf get going—she started the night 8-8 from the floor. State’s defense wasn’t good, but it was also one of those games. Despite that young lady putting up 20 points in the first half, State climbed out of a 10-point deficit to take a six-point lead into the half.

Zoe Brooks and Zam Jones put on an incredible show in the second quarter as they attacked the rim mercilessly and to great success, as Wake Forest had zero answers for dribble penetration. You could make a highlight reel from this game of just those two.

NC State scored the last seven points of the first half and the first 14 of the second to put the Deacs in the rearview mirror, and it took Wake six minutes to get on the board in the third quarter.

Wake Forest scored two points in about nine minutes to begin the second half, then scored 40 over the last 11 minutes, because basketball is stupid and dumb. Twenty of those points came in the last four minutes as Wake’s offense caught fire again, this time aided by State’s reserves, who began doing a combination of silly things like making bad passes, taking shots too early in the shot clock, and missing free throws. This game got far more interesting than it had any business being, as Wake shot its way back to within five points with 14 seconds left.

Always fun to feel more annoyed than anything after a victory.

But anyway, State had dominated the second half up to that late Wake Forest ambush, and its guard depth was on display again, as the Pack put up 90 and nearly 1.2 points per possession despite Aziaha James scoring just seven points. Brooks scored 18, Jones had 17, and Saniya Rivers scored 13. Tilda Trygger benefitted from all of the dribble penetration to end up with a number of layups, and scored 12. NC State shot over 63% inside the arc. (As did Wake Forest, unfortunately.)

NC State is 9-1 in league play but the turn of the calendar to February means that laughing time is over. The gauntlet begins with Duke (8-1 in ACC; proj. NCAA 3-seed) and Florida State 7-2; proj. NCAA 8-seed) next week.