NC State @ Wake Forest preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 24, 2019 ) Wake Forest 74, NC State 94

Although the final score shows that North Carolina State lost by just five points to No. 18 Memphis on Nov. 28, Wolfpack coach Kevin Keatts and his players know better. N.C. State put together a complete effort against Wisconsin in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge and hope that energy carries over to ACC play when they visit Wake Forest on Friday.

The Wolfpack were never really in the game with the Tigers, surrendering 55 points in the first half of the 83-78 defeat, but they rebounded by beating the Badgers 69-54 on Wednesday led by sophomore Jericole Hellems' career-high 23 points. “I’m always talking about when you lose a game, you’re a little sick,” Keatts said. “I thought we got well (Wednesday). I thought we bounced back.” Wake Forest dropped its second straight game after three wins when they fell behind 20-7 at Penn State, trailed by 18 at the half and never recovered, falling 76-54 in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge on Wednesday. "We have to do a better job of taking care of the basketball. We had 20 turnovers which led to a lot of early run-outs for them in transition and they got to the paint far too many times to finish at the rim."

TV: 2 p.m. ET ACC Network

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA STATE (6-2, 0-1 ACC): Hellems (12.3 points, 4.1 rebounds), a 6-7 sophomore, shot 8-for-13 from the floor and 4-for-6 behind the arc, Markell Johnson (12.0 points, 6.0 assists, 4.1 rebounds, 1.9 steals) added 12 points and C.J. Bryce (15.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists) chipped in 11 on 5-of-6 shooting. The Wolfpack took care of the ball, recording only six turnovers in the game, and are ranked 10th in the nation and third in the ACC in turnover percentage (15 percent).

ABOUT WAKE FOREST (5-4, 0-1): Penn State's defense held the Demon Deacons to 29 percent shooting and leading scored Brandon Childress (15.1 points, 4.9 assists) was limited to one point on 0-for-7 shooting and two assists. Reserve Olivier Sarr (13.2 points, 9.6 rebounds), a 7-0 junior who was scoreless in the first half, posted his fourth double-double in five games with team bests of 14 points and 10 rebounds. Andrien White also had double-digit points with 10.

TIP-INS

1. Wake Forest has won six of the last eight meetings in Winston-Salem but overall the teams have split the last 10.

2. Other than White, the rest of the Demon Deacons' starters combined for seven points on 2-for-18 shooting with eight turnovers against Penn State.

3. One point wasn't the career low for Childress, who was held scoreless twice last season and five times total so far in his career.

PREDICTION: North Carolina State 75, Wake Forest 68