Jericole Hellems scored 22 points and North Carolina State overcame a horrific opening stretch to win 88-70 against visiting Bucknell in the first game of the season Tuesday night in Raleigh, N.C.
Terquavion Smith pumped in 20 points and Dereon Seabron had 18 points and 11 rebounds as the Wolfpack produced a strong second half.
Casey Morsell, a transfer from Virginia, added 13 points for the Wolfpack.
Xander Rice and Andrew Funk, who are the team’s two returning starters, scored 14 points apiece for Bucknell, which played a Patriot League-only schedule last year. Jake van der Heijden had 13 points and Josh Adoh provided 12 points.
Bucknell finished 9-for-31 on 3-pointers. The problem for the Bisons was that they were outscored 15-3 at the free-throw line.
NC State wants to play at a brisk pace and that approach eventually paid off. The Wolfpack collected 23 points off turnovers.
NC State posted 33 field goals yet was credited with only seven assists.
The teams were tied 40-40 at halftime.
NC State lost center Manny Bates to a first-half shoulder injury and he didn’t return.
With Bates out, the Wolfpack received a boost from reserve Ebenezer Dowuona with 10 rebounds. NC State finished with a 42-33 edge on the boards, with 16 of the Wolfpack’s rebounds coming at the offensive end and leading to 18 second-chance points.
Rice led Bucknell with five assists.
Bucknell scored the game’s first eight points, stretching the margin to 13-1. A 12-2 run for the Wolfpack tightened the score in a hurry.
Before the game, NC State announced that senior guard Thomas Allen was sitting out for a one-game suspension related to playing in an unsanctioned summer league game.
NC State won the only previous meeting with Bucknell six years ago.
–Field Level Media
