NC State @ Florida State preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 25, 2018 ) Florida State 72, NC State 92

At just 8-7 in conference action, North Carolina State needs all the wins it can get down the stretch if it hopes to make the NCAA Tournament. A road win over a ranked opponent would look great on the Wolfpack’s resume and they’ll get the chance to do just that when they visit No. 17 Florida State on Saturday afternoon.

N.C. State comes in winners of two straight, with its latest coming in a 94-74 drubbing of Wake Forest on Sunday where Markell Johnson scored 25 to lead all scorers. "It was just his game," teammate Braxton Beverly told reporters after the game. "He's capable of doing that. He's so unselfish, he (doesn't) do it much because he always likes to get people involved." Florida State got back on track following a road loss to No. 5 North Carolina by beating Notre Dame on Monday night. The Seminoles were off their game early on but got a lift from freshman Devin Vassell in the second half as they pulled away for the 68-61 win over the Fighting Irish.

TV: Noon ET, ESPN2

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA STATE (20-8, 8-7 ACC): Johnson, who leads the team and is fifth in the ACC with 4.2 assists, hit six 3-pointers - a career-high - on nine attempts against Wake Forest while also grabbing six rebounds and handing out three assists to go with no turnovers. Freshman Jericole Hellems added 14 points off the bench as the Wolfpack shot 46.3 percent from the floor and 36.7 percent from long range. N.C. State outrebounded Wake Forest 47-37 while holding the Demon Deacons to 37.9 percent shooting.

ABOUT FLORIDA STATE (22-6, 10-5): Vassell came off the bench to play a season-high 22 minutes and scored 13 points - the most he has scored in conference play this season - on 5-of-6 shooting while also grabbing a season-high seven rebounds. Christ Koumadje, a 7-4 senior center, added 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting while leading scorer Mfiondu Kabengele (13.1 points per game in 20.4 minutes) managed 10 points but shot just 3-of-11 from the field. The Seminoles stepped up defensively with the game on the line, holding Notre Dame scoreless for nearly five minutes late as the Irish made just one of their final 10 attempts from the field.

TIP-INS

1. N.C. State leads the all-time series 30-25, including last year’s 92-72 home win.

2. The Wolfpack and Seminoles sit third and fourth, respectively, in the ACC in points per game at 82.3 and 76.2.

3. N.C. State has lost six straight to ranked opponents, dating back to December of 2018.

PREDICTION: Florida State 80, North Carolina State 77