Georgia Tech @ NC State preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 1, 2018 ) NC State 75, Georgia Tech 78

North Carolina State knows the games only are going to get tougher from here as the postseason approaches, which is why the Wolfpack look to Wednesday’s home contest against Georgia Tech as an opportunity to get better. Saturday’s 78-73 loss at Florida State represented the type of tightly contested, physical game that looms as the ACC tournament approaches and N.C. State chases a second-consecutive NCAA tournament appearance.

“We played hard against the No. 18 team on their home floor and had our chances,” N.C. State coach Kevin Keatts told reporters after his team forced 16 turnovers but was whistled for 26 fouls and could not come up with a few loose balls down the stretch. “I just think there were a couple of 50-50 balls we obviously didn’t get and they did.” The Yellow Jackets have found few highlights since ACC play started but Sunday’s 81-78 overtime victory over Boston College provided hope for the future as sophomore guard Jose Alvarado and freshman guard Michael Devoe combined for 41 points. Georgia Tech, which lost seven straight league games after a 3-3 start, has won two of its last four. "It i not where we want to be, but our young guys are getting great opportunities and improving,” Georgia Tech coach Josh Pastner told the media afterward.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, ACC Network

ABOUT GEORGIA TECH (13-17, 5-12 ACC): Alvarado finished with 21 points to give the Yellow Jackets leading scorer (12.9 points per game) three 20-plus outings in his last four games. Devoe hit four 3-pointers en route to 20 points and a third-consecutive game with double-figure points. Georgia Tech averages only 60.6 points per game in ACC play, but recorded its highest point total in league play since scoring 92 against Wake Forest on Jan. 5.

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA STATE (20-9, 8-8): Senior guard Torin Dorn, the Wolfpack’s leading scorer at 13.9 points per game, overcame first-half foul trouble to score all 12 of his points in the second half against Florida State. Sophomore forward D.J. Funderburk finished with a season high-tying 18 points and nine rebounds before fouling out. N.C. State ranks 20th nationally in scoring (82 points per game).

TIP-INS

1. Both teams are among the best in the nation in defending the 3-point shot: Georgia Tech ranks seventh at 29.5 percent; N.C. State is 12th at 29.9 percent.

2. The Wolfpack shot 55.2 percent from the field in the second half Saturday and finished 9-of-19 overall from 3-point range.

3. Georgia Tech averages 14.6 turnovers per game, but has committed just 16 over its previous two contests.

PREDICTION: N.C. State 76, Georgia Tech 64