Field Level Media
Nov 23, 2019
C.J. Bryce scored 18 points and Markell Johnson posted 12 points as North Carolina State controlled play early and notched a 74-58 victory against visiting Little Rock on Saturday afternoon at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C.
N.C. State (5-1) has won five consecutive games since losing its opener to Georgia Tech. The Wolfpack will venture away from home for the first time for a Thanksgiving Day game against nationally ranked Memphis in New York.
N.C. State has stuck to a primary eight-player rotation as some expected role players nurse injuries.
Ben Coupet Jr.'s 21 points and Ruot Monyyong's 20 points paced Little Rock (3-3) as the duo combined to shoot 17 of 27 from the field. The problem for the Trojans was that the other three starters combined to shoot 3 of 22 from the field.
Monyyong also had 10 rebounds as Little Rock held a 37-33 advantage on the boards.
N.C. State broke out to a 25-9 lead, aided by a series of Little Rock turnovers.
N.C. State held a 39-21 edge at the break despite not scoring in the final 3 1/2 minutes of the first half.
Bryce made his first five shots from the field as part of the Wolfpack's 46.9-percent shooting from the field prior to halftime. It was a good bounce-back outing for Bryce, whose seven points earlier in the week marked his only game outside of double figures this season.
Bryce also shared team-high rebounding honors with six.
Little Rock made just 8 of 29 shots from the field and committed 11 turnovers in the first half. The Trojans had seven more giveaways in the second half.
The Wolfpack built a 23-point lead early in the second half.
While N.C. State has only played home games, this one was back at its regular arena after playing the past two games at historic Reynolds Coliseum on campus.
--Field Level Media