Field Level Media
Dec 29, 2019
Junior forward DJ Funderburk scored a career-high 22 points and North Carolina State fended off a second-half challenge to defeat Appalachian State, 72-60, on Sunday in Raleigh, N.C.
Devon Daniels poured in 18 points to go with 11 rebounds and Markell Johnson provided 12 points and 11 boards a week after his first career triple-double in a game against The Citadel. This time, Johnson ended up with six assists.
NC State (10-3) was without senior guard C.J. Bryce (concussion protocol), the team's scoring leader at 16.1 points per game. The Wolfpack play next Saturday at Clemson.
Justin Forrest racked up 25 points for Appalachian State (8-5), which had a four-game winning streak snapped. Forrest has scored 25 or more points in three straight games and five times this season.
Adrian Delph added 10 points, but the Mountaineers failed to win a fourth consecutive road game. Appalachian State shot 36.9 percent from the field.
The Mountaineers entered the game with their best 12-game start in 13 years. They were looking for their first victory against an opponent from a power conference under first-year coach Dustin Kerns.
Appalachian State was within 50-48 with less than nine minutes to play. The Wolfpack scored the next eight points, four of those by Manny Bates off rebounds.
After Daniels drained a 3-pointer from the right side, the Wolfpack held a 61-49 edge.
Funderburk scored 11 points in each half.
NC State led 35-26 at intermission, spurred by a 15-6 run to close the half. The Mountaineers shot 2-for-12 on 3-pointers in the first half.
Bryce missed an NC State game for the first time in two seasons since the UNC Wilmington transfer became eligible to play for the Wolfpack.
It was the final nonconference game for both teams. NC State won its 17th consecutive non-league game in its primary home of PNC Arena.
--Field Level Media