Senior forwards Richard Howell and Scott Wood, as well as senior guard Jay Lewis, were honored Wednesday night as the N.C. State men’s basketball team (22-8, 11-6 ACC) defeated the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (12-17, 5-11 ACC), 81-66, on Senior Night.
The win marks the first time since the 1988-89 season State has defeated Duke, North Carolina and Wake Forest at home in the same season.
“I walked in at the halfway mark of [Wood’s and Howell’s] careers,” head coach Mark Gottfried said. “Both had unbelievable senior years. They epitomize what you want in a basketball player in that they are tremendously unselfish. Their goal is to win.”
“It is more of an emotional moment for my family,” Wood said. “I am going to miss it here [at PNC Arena], but I am just glad we came out of here with a win.”
“I have been through my ups and downs at PNC Arena,” Howell said. “It has been a blast. I am sad to see it end, but I am excited for the next step.”
Junior forward Calvin Leslie led the Wolfpack with 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. This marked the Holly Springs-native’s ninth double-double of the season and the 21st of his career.
“[Leslie] was really unselfish,” Gottfried said. “He rebounded well, did not have a turnover, blocked four shots and seemed to be a lot more active. It was nice to see him play well.”
Junior guard Lorenzo Brown led the team in assists with seven and contributed 11 points to the team’s total.
Wood added eight points for State, including a basket beyond the arc, giving him 313 for his career, tying him with former Duke Blue Devil Jason Williams for eighth all-time in Atlantic Coast Conference history.
“You do not see somebody like Scott Wood every day,” Howell said. “I am blessed to play with somebody like him.”
Howell, who began the game in foul trouble, only played seven minutes in the first half, but still managed to contribute nine points and five rebounds in the contest.
“The toughest part is leaving [Howell],” Wood said. “He has been a big part of my career, and I am going to miss him for sure.”
After entering the game with two minutes remaining in the game, Lewis hit a three-pointer with a wild PNC Arena crowd supporting the walk-on. The basket was the only one he made in the game.
Even on the day dedicated to the departing seniors, the Pack’s freshmen exploded. Guard Rodney Purvis scored 14 points and made three of four shots behind the three-point arc. Forward T.J. Warren started the game for State and added 15 points and six rebounds. Guard Tyler Lewis contributed two points in his 12 minutes of play.
The Deacons started the game strong. They held the Pack to only eight points within the first nine minutes. Wake held a 14-9 lead with 11:43 remaining in the first half when State began its offensive charge. Over the course of first half past that point, the Pack went on a 30-10 run and left the half with a 39-24 lead. Leslie led the scoring overhaul with nine points during that stretch.
“We had a slow start at the beginning of the game, but once we got going and our guys got their second wind, we were rolling,” Purvis said.
State maintained its advantage throughout the latter half of the game. It led by as much as 24 during the course of the second half. Both teams scored 42 points in the period despite Wake shooting 54.5 percent in that span as opposed to the Pack’s 50 percent.
State dominated underneath the basket, outscoring the Deacons in the paint, 46-40. The Pack also took advantage of Wake’s mistakes. It forced 15 turnovers and converted them into 22 points on the other side of the court.
State will conclude its regular season schedule on Saturday when it travels to Tallahassee to take on the Florida State Seminoles. Tip-off will take place at 2 p.m., and the game will telecast on ESPN2.
