The Citadel @ NC State preview

North Carolina State's recklessness in its last game cost it a chance to post the kind of impressive non-conference win over a ranked opponent that could loom large in March. The Wolfpack hope to address some of the careless play that led to Thursday's loss at Auburn on Sunday when they host The Citadel.

N.C. State recorded season highs in turnovers (18) and fouls (28) while converting only 12 of its 20 free-throw attempts in a 79-73 defeat against the ninth-ranked Tigers - yet another loss to a top 25 foe that was the primary reason why a 22-11 Wolfpack squad didn't make the Big Dance last year. The Wolfpack held a two-point advantage with just over five minutes remaining, but three turnovers and two fouls on C.J. Bryce over the next three-plus minutes allowed Auburn to go on a 10-0 run. "I feel like in this game and the Memphis game (an 83-78 setback on Nov. 28), we had a lot of unforced errors down the stretch that you can’t have against really good teams. That’s something we have to get better at," Bryce said. After getting a look at Auburn's high-scoring attack (82.6 points; 15th in Division I), N.C. State will face the nation's third-most potent scoring offense in the Bulldogs (87.1), who reached the century mark for the third straight game in Thursday's 102-99 triple-overtime victory at Longwood.

TV: 6 p.m. ET, ACC Network

ABOUT THE CITADEL (6-5): Senior guard Kaelon Harris (14.1 points, 8.2 rebounds) posted his second double-double in three contests and his fifth one of the season with 27 points - knocking down a career-high 13 free throws in the process - and 10 boards versus the Lancers. Junior sharpshooter Kaiden Rice (14.6 points) added 21 points on 6-of-14 shooting beyond the arc - extending his streak of knocking down multiple 3-pointers to eight games - and is tied for 33rd in Division I with 3.1 makes per game. Freshman guard Fletcher Abee (12.1) managed only eight points against Longwood but ranks fourth in the Southern Conference with 2.8 made 3-pointers per game.

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA STATE (8-3): Bryce (team-high 16.4 points, 6.9 rebounds) is one of four regulars to shoot at least 50 percent from the floor and recorded his third double-double of the season with 21 points and 11 boards against Auburn before fouling out. Markell Johnson (13.4 points, team-high 6.6 assists), who posted his first double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 assists Thursday, is averaging 16 points over his last seven contests after getting off to a slow start due to a preseason ankle injury. D.J. Funderburk (10.3 points) tallied 12 points and was the only other Wolfpack player to reach double figures against Auburn, but he and Johnson each committed five turnovers.

TIP-INS

1. N.C. State ranks second in the ACC and 44th in Division I in field-goal percentage (47.6).

2. The Bulldogs rank 17th in the country with 116 triples and 11th in 3-pointers per game (10.5).

3. Johnson (463) moved into fifth place on the Wolfpack's career assist list Thursday, passing Julius Hodge.

PREDICTION: North Carolina State 95, The Citadel 79