NC State pulled off a furious second-half rally Friday night, defeating East Tennessee State 77-63 behind Preston Edmead’s monster double-double and Paul McNeil Jr.’s sharpshooting from beyond the arc. The Wolfpack, under first-year coach Justin Gainey, clawed back from a double-digit deficit, showing some serious grit to secure their second straight win.
Gainey’s Squad Finds Another Gear
This wasn’t just any win for the Wolfpack; it was a statement. Edmead was an absolute force, dropping 20 points and dishing out 10 assists, orchestrating the offense like a seasoned vet. McNeil Jr. was lights out from deep, sinking five of NC State’s 13 total 3-pointers on his way to 16 points. And Christian Hammond pitched in another 16 points himself. What’s more, this squad showed incredible composure at the line, nailing all 12 of their free-throw attempts. Coach Gainey, who actually played point guard for the Wolfpack from ’96 to 2000, has this team believing, and you can see it in how they refused to quit.
The Buccaneers Landed Punches, But the Wolfpack Bit Back
ETSU didn’t make it easy, though. They came out swinging, with Tyran Mason leading their charge with 14 points, as five Buccaneers hit double figures. After Edmead opened the game with a three, ETSU’s Marqus Marion answered right back with one of his own and helped them grab a lead they held for most of the first half. BJ Ward’s layup and Jayden Cooper’s three even sent ETSU into halftime with a 36-35 lead. Then the second half started, and it looked like trouble. ETSU opened with a 12-3 run, with Marion scoring seven of those points, pushing their lead to 48-38 just three minutes in. That’s when the Wolfpack unleashed pure chaos. They stormed back with an insane 15-0 run that included clutch 3-pointers from McNeil, Eemeli Yalaho, and RJ Keene. Just like that, NC State was up 57-52 midway through the period. McNeil wasn’t done, hitting a four-point play with 3:44 left to give the Wolfpack their first double-digit lead at 70-59, sparking a dominant 13-4 closing run to seal the deal.
NC State’s next challenge is against Presbyterian on Tuesday. You can bet they’ll be riding high after a comeback like that, but they’ll need to carry that same intensity into every matchup if they want to keep this momentum going. Meanwhile, East Tennessee State, now 0-2, will look to get their first win of the season against Campbell on Wednesday.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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