Matt Able and Ven-Allen Lubin each scored 13 points apiece to lead North Carolina State to a comfortable 85-45 victory over Liberty on Wednesday night in Raleigh, N.C.
Able shot 4-of-6 from the floor and also grabbed four rebounds, while Lubin shot 6-of-9 and corralled six rebounds in the win for NC State (7-3). Tre Holloman and Quadir Copeland each contributed 11 points. Copeland also chipped in seven rebounds and a team-high seven assists for the Wolfpack.
In its lowest scoring performance of the season, Brett Decker Jr. and JJ Harper each scored 12 points apiece for Liberty (6-3).
The score was briefly tied 6-6 in the opening moments of the contest, but then the Wolfpack broke off a 25-5 run which was kickstarted by Copeland swiping possession away from the Flames and then dishing it to Holloman for a transition 3-pointer. That run also featured a circus-like layup from Copeland, who sank the shot while being fouled and brought the NC State fans inside PNC Arena to their feet.
NC State went on to lead by as many as 42 points and held the lead for more than 38 minutes.
Liberty entered this game as one of the nation’s top 3-point shooting teams – ranking fourth in the country with a 43.1 shooting percentage from deep – but the Wolfpack extinguished the Flames when it came to making shots from behind the arc. Liberty made just 6 of 28 shots from 3-point land against NC State for a 21.4% clip.
That’s the lowest mark Liberty has been held to in a single game this season. The Flames’ point total is also the least the Wolfpack have allowed this season. Days after first-year NC State coach Will Wade called for the team to find its “edge” in a radio interview, it sure seemed like the Wolfpack did.
NC State also imposed its will inside, outscoring Liberty 42-24 in the paint. The Wolfpack won the rebounding battle 42-31 and limited the Flames to just two second-chance points. NC State also scored 21 points off 17 Liberty turnovers.
Colin Porter returned to the starting lineup for Liberty after missing the previous game with a leg injury. He finished with five points and three assists in 26 minutes.
