Since 1923 • For a greater Loyola

The Maroon

Since 1923 • For a greater Loyola

The Maroon

Since 1923 • For a greater Loyola

The Maroon

    NC State beats New Orleans 69-52

    North Carolina States Tracy Smith, left, shoots over the defense of New Orleans Jaroslav Tyrna (13) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009, at the RBC Center in Raleigh, N.C.
    (AP Photo/News & Observer,Ethan Hyman) ** RALEIGH-AREA TV OUT **
    North Carolina State’s Tracy Smith, left, shoots over the defense of New Orleans Jaroslav Tyrna (13) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009, at the RBC Center in Raleigh, N.C.

    RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Tracy Smith had 20 points and eight rebounds to help North Carolina State beat New Orleans 69-52 on Sunday.

    C.J. Williams added a season-high 12 for the Wolfpack (5-0), who built a double-digit lead in the first 5 minutes and maintained control the rest of the way. N.C. State led by 10 points at halftime, then used an 11-0 spurt midway through the second half to turn away the Privateers’ best run to get back in the game.

    Javi Gonzalez hit 3s on consecutive possessions to start that spurt, then fed Smith inside for a hook that made it 50-35 with 11:18 left. Dennis Horner closed the run with a midrange jumper off an inbound pass and a free throw, pushing the lead to 18 points with 9:44 to play and effectively sealing the win.

    Charles Carmouche scored 16 points to lead New Orleans (3-2), which shot 35 percent.

    N.C. State won all four games of the Glenn Wilkes Classic to start the year, including a two-point win against Auburn in its finale. The Wolfpack picked up where it left off and played with more confidence than in its opening win against Georgia State on Nov. 12, jumping to a 14-3 lead on a 3-pointer from freshman Scott Wood that bounced around the rim before dropping through at 15:01 of the first half.

    The Wolfpack led 34-24 at halftime before the Privateers closed to 42-35 on a score in the lane from Billy Humphrey with 12:47 to play. But Gonzalez sparked the decisive run on the next play, burying a 3 from the left corner just in front of the Wolfpack bench that pushed the margin back to double figures.

    N.C. State shot 48 percent for the game, including 8-for-16 from 3-point range.

    The game offered an extra bit of emotion for N.C. State assistant Monte Towe, who was head coach at New Orleans for five seasons before leaving to return to his alma mater’s sideline in 2006.

    It also marked the debut of Wolfpack freshman forward Richard Howell, who had missed the first four games while recovering from preseason knee surgery. The 6-foot-8, 266-pound Howell didn’t play in the first half and finished with two points and two rebounds, though he provides the Wolfpack needed depth in support of Smith inside.

    However, the Wolfpack again played without senior guard Farnold Degand (academics), who coach Sidney Lowe said would be out indefinitely.

     

    Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.

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