South Raleigh News

The NC State men's basketball team is set to begin its ACC campaign against Florida State this Saturday at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh. The game will start at 4 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPNU. Fans can also tune into the Wolfpack Sports Network to hear Matt Chazanow and Tony Haynes call the game.

NC State enters the matchup following a narrow defeat to Texas, losing 63-59 in the SEC-ACC Challenge. Despite falling behind early, the team fought back to level the score during the first half. Dontrez Styles delivered a standout performance with 17 points and two blocks, marking his best scoring game for NC State so far. Marcus Hill contributed 16 points, maintaining his efficiency as a scorer this season.

Michael O'Connell led NC State in assists, rebounds, and steals against Texas but experienced an unusual number of turnovers during that game. However, he remains among the top players in the ACC for assist-to-turnover ratio.

As they face Florida State, NC State looks to maintain its strong home record of 32-8 since the beginning of the 2022-23 season. The team has shown efficiency in two-point field goals and leads the ACC in turnover margin.

Both teams are noted for their defensive capabilities, particularly in shot-blocking and limiting opponents' three-point shooting percentages. This upcoming match will feature two of the top shot-blocking teams in the conference.

Historically, NC State holds a narrow lead over Florida State with a series record of 32-31. Their last encounter saw Florida State secure a victory with impressive shooting accuracy.