By Brian Murphy, WRAL

Raleigh, N.C.
On Monday night, NC State once again demonstrated their ability to keep up with a highly-ranked ACC opponent for a significant portion of the game.

However, number 9 Duke, similar to North Carolina on Saturday, was ultimately too strong for the Wolfpack, and managed to secure a 79-64 victory in the last few minutes at PNC Arena in Raleigh.

Before the game, NC State paid tribute to seniors DJ Burns, DJ Horne, Casey Morsell, and Alex Nunnally, as it was their last home game of the regular season.

Duke improved to 24-6 overall and 15-4 in the ACC. The Blue Devils host No. 7 North Carolina on Saturday in Durham. ESPN’s “College GameDay” will originate from Cameron Indoor Stadium on Saturday.

According to Duke coach Jon Scheyer, we demonstrated composure and resilience, essential elements when facing this opponent, along with a strong sense of strength and determination.

The ACC record of NC State dropped to 9-10 with a total of 17 wins and 13 losses. The Wolfpack’s last game of the regular season will take place on Saturday against Pittsburgh.

During their last match, NC State held a 10-point lead against North Carolina in the beginning of the second half. However, the Tar Heels made a comeback and ultimately won by nine points.

On Monday evening, the Wolfpack were the first to score nine points in the game against the Blue Devils. With 12:10 remaining, NC State held a slight lead of 46-45 after Mohamed Diarra’s quick lay-up during a transition play.

However, Duke responded with a streak of 10 points while the Wolfpack failed to narrow the gap by more than five points for the remainder of the game. Kevin Keatts, coach of NC State, acknowledged multiple defensive concerns during this period.

According to NC State coach Kevin Keatts, the team cannot afford to have those mistakes, as they were punished for them in the crucial moments of the game.

Jeremy Roach was the leading scorer for Duke, earning 21 points. Jared McCain, playing as a guard, contributed 16 points with 14 of those points being scored in the second half.

In his best performance of the season, first-year forward Sean Stewart totaled 12 points, five rebounds, and three blocks while playing a career-high 26 minutes for the Blue Devils. He also recorded 16 points in their game against LaSalle, the only other time he reached double digits this year.

According to Scheyer, he has continuously improved. His name is Sean and he brings a unique skill set to the team – his superior athleticism, flexible defense, and scoring ability near the hoop, making him a threat for alley-oop passes.

Kyle Filipowski only played four minutes in the first half because he received two fouls early on. He did not score in the first half, but made nine points in the second half.

Burns had a team-high 27 points, along with five rebounds and four assists, but NC State had just three pointers. Diarra (10 points) was the only other Wolfpack player in double figures.

Duke recorded 19 offensive rebounds while NC State had 13 offensive rebounds.

Scheyer stressed the importance of being able to secure victories even in difficult situations. He emphasized the need to fight for a win when one’s performance may not be at its peak, and that is exactly what we were able to do.

Source: wralsportsfan.com