Despite a career-high 30-point performance from senior forward Kody Burke, No. 14 N.C. State fell to No. 7 Duke by a score of 83-70.
Thursday’s game marked the 75th meeting between the Wolfpack (22-5 overall, 9-4 ACC) and the Blue Devils (24-3 overall, 11-2 ACC). The all-time series record now stands at 40-35 in State’s favor, although Duke has won 19 of the last 21 meetings.
The Pack has now lost back-to-back games after going 9-2 to start ACC play.
Duke’s sophomore guard Alexis Jones made a big contribution to the Devils’ effort, stretching its lead to seven points within the first 11 minutes of the game.
State responded nicely to Duke’s spurts, matching the Devils’ play with runs of its own. Big three-point shots from freshman guard Miah Spencer kept the Pack within four through the first 12 minutes of the first half.
State had difficulty getting shots off against a stout Duke defense that totaled seven blocks as a team in the first half. The Pack was held to only eight points in the paint in the first 20 minutes.
The Devils were able to pull out an 8-0 run late in the first half, finding momentum after forcing the Pack into three straight turnovers. Duke extended its lead to 12 with 5:03 remaining in the first half.
Jones came up big for the Devils in the closing seconds of the first half, sinking a buzzer-beating three-pointer to give Duke a 13-point heading into halftime. Jones entered the locker room with 12 points.
State was uncharacteristically off in the first half from behind the arc, making only three of its 15 three-point attempts. The 20 percent performance was a far cry from the Pack’s season average from long range: 38.4 percent.
Duke carried its momentum through halftime, breaking off a 19-5 run in the first six minutes of the second half to extend its lead to 24. The Devils kept up their three-point barrage, knocking down three shots from downtown in that time.
“They came out [of halftime] with more aggression [than us],” N.C. State head coach Wes Moore said. “That’s what bothered me.”
At the halfway mark in the second half, State scored nine straight points, cutting the Devils’ lead to 11 with 9:05 remaining in the game. Senior center Markeisha Gatling, who had been quiet through the first half, got hot at the right time for the Pack, netting two key buckets to spark her team’s run.
With 7:33 remaining in the contest, senior guard Myisha Goodwin-Coleman injured her ankle after diving for a loose ball, and had to be carried off the court. Moore said after the game that he was not sure about the extent of her injury.
Following the injury, an inspired State team drilled four straight three-pointers, three coming from Burke. The shots were part of a 12-3 run by the Pack that shortened the Devils’ lead to four with 4:12 remaining.
“When you’re in a slump,” Burke said, “that inspires you to give more energy.”
The Pack was on fire from long range in the second half, sinking eight of its 15 three-point attempts. Moore said ball movement played a big role in the shooting improvement.
“In the second half, we got [the ball out of traps] quick, reversed it, swung it.” Moore said. “We were able to find the open person better in the second half.”
However, Duke didn’t bow down, as the Devils answered State’s hot streak with a 7-0 run of their own to stretch their lead back to double digits. Duke held strong to its lead, finishing the game with a 13-point victory.
In the team’s final run, Burke was the only starter in the game for the Pack. Starting junior guards Len’Nique Brown and Krystal Barrett struggled heavily, combining for zero points, missing all 17 of their shots.
“Our guards struggled tonight shooting the ball,” Moore said. “When you’re having an off shooting night, it should make you more determined to make up for it with play on defense.”
Moore said he would play anyone who was willing to compete.
“If we’re going to go down, I want to go down competing,” Moore said. “If that means playing the last person on the bench, then I’ll do it. We’re going to make sure that N.C. State is a team that’s known for competing every night.”
