Field Level Media
Dec 30, 2020
Freshman Shakeel Moore scored four points in the final minute to help North Carolina State hang on for a 79-76 victory over Boston College in an Atlantic Coast Conference clash Wednesday night in Raleigh, N.C.
Moore's jumper with 27.3 seconds remaining gave the Wolfpack (6-1, 2-0 ACC) a 77-76 lead, and his breakaway dunk with two seconds left accounted for the final score.
The Eagles (2-6, 0-2) rallied from a double-digit deficit to start the second half and took their first lead with 5:34 remaining. The lead changed hands six times in the final six minutes.
NC State senior DJ Funderburk led all scorers with 21 points -- tying his career high against an ACC opponent -- after sitting out the previous three games because of COVID-19 protocols. Jerico Hellems scored a season-high 20 for the Wolfpack. Moore ended up with 12 points to match Devon Daniels.
Wynston Tabbs led the Eagles with 18 points, including three consecutive 3-pointers in Boston College's late rally. Jay Heath added 17, Steffon Mitchell 12 and Makai Ashton-Langford 11 for the Eagles.
Funderburk's performance made up for the Wolfpack's loss of Manny Bates, who played only seven minutes in the first half before leaving after banging his knee. He did not return and finished with four points and a blocked shot after recording 14 points, seven rebounds and five blocks in the Wolfpack's win over North Carolina in his previous outing.
The Wolfpack needed less than give minutes to build a double-digit lead at 12-2 and were up 18-10. The Eagles then went on a 5-of-6 shooting spree to close the gap to 20-16 approaching the midpoint of the period.
NC State canned seven consecutive baskets -- all layups -- in pulling out to a 37-23 cushion before the Eagles got the gap down to 45-35 at the break. The Eagles cut that deficit in half in the opening minutes of the second half and were in striking distance the rest of the way.
--Field Level Media