Nov 22, 2024; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack guard KJ Keatts (13) is celebrated for his point with guard Breon Pass (4) during the second half of the game against the William & Mary Tribe at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images Marcus Hill scored 19 points as host North Carolina State pulled away from visiting William & Mary to win 81-59 on Friday night in Raleigh, N.C.
Hill shot 7-of-13 from the floor and also had four rebounds, two assists and two steals in the win. NC State (5-0) also got 12 points from Jayden Taylor and Dontrez Styles, as well as10 points and nine rebounds from Brandon Huntley-Hatfield. Off the bench, Ben Middlebrooks added a stat-stuffing effort of 11 points, seven rebounds, four blocks and three assists.
For the Tribe (3-4), Noah Collier scored a game-high 25 points while Gabe Dorsey added 13 points and four rebounds.
The Tribe jumped out to a four-point lead early on following a sequence where Collier threw down a dunk, Dorsey swished a 3-pointer, and then Collier tipped back in one of his teammate’s missed layups. NC State quickly rallied though, breaking off a 20-3 run, capped off by Huntley-Hatfield knocking down a shot from outside the arc and then dunking on the next possession.
NC State led by as much as 25 points.
Leading by 19 entering the second half, the Wolfpack saw their advantage shrink to just seven points with 5:29 to play after an 18-6 run by William & Mary. NC State answered again though, closing the game on a 22-6 run — a stretch that featured a highlight-worthy two-handed dunk in transition and smooth 3-pointer from Styles, who finished with nine points.
NC State forced the Tribe into 21 turnovers and created 29 points off those extra possessions. The Wolfpack also outscored William & Mary 36-9 on fast breaks and 46-28 in the paint.
Next up for undefeated NC State — which has yet to face a power conference opponent this season — is a Final Four rematch with No. 6 Purdue on Thanksgiving in San Diego.
–Field Level Media
