The NC State men’s basketball team continued in the Battle 4 Atlantis in Nassau, Bahamas against Northern Iowa Thursday, losing its first game of the season 64-60 the day after upsetting No. 2 Arizona.

Throughout the first half, the Wolfpack (5-1) struggled against the Panthers (5-1), falling behind 19-12 early on. The Pack was able to come back quickly to tie it up at 21-21, but again fell behind as the Panthers steadily pushed the lead out to 27-21.

The Wolfpack was able to come back again through the efforts of freshman guard Braxton Beverly and redshirt senior forward Lennard Freeman.

The first half ended tied at 32-32 after a made free throw from Freeman to wrap things up. Freeman and sophomore center Omer Yurtseven led the Pack at the half with 7 points each, while Beverly pitched in five and redshirt junior guard Torin Dorn had six.

The start of the second half was a close battle for points as neither team allowed much offensively. State pushed ahead to a 43-40 lead on a 3-pointer from Yurtseven, followed by a 3-point play on a hard drive from sophomore guard Markell Johnson to extend the Pack lead to 46-42.

Johnson made another good play to continue the Pack’s hot stretch, stealing the ball and finding Beverly at the top of the 3-point line for the shot, which Beverly made to put the Pack up 49-42.

With only two minutes left in the game, NC State led Northern Iowa 58-56, but turnovers quickly became the Pack’s enemy as the Panthers were able to take advantage of opportunities.

Northern Iowa came back and jumped ahead to a 62-58 lead late after a travel was called on senior forward Abdul-Malik Abu.

Yurtseven scored a layup with 10 seconds left to contest Northern Iowa, which held a 62-60 lead after the basket. Yurtseven finished the game with a team-high 17 points.

The Wolfpack fouled the Panthers in hopes to regain possession, but with two made free throws the Panthers secured the game, going up 64-60.

NC State will take on Tennessee Friday at 2:30 p.m. in its final match of the tournament.