Raleigh, NC – C.J. Leslie totaled 21 points and eight rebounds to lead the No. 23 North Carolina State Wolfpack to an 89-68 win over UNC Greensboro at PNC Arena.
Lorenzo Brown and Scott Wood added 15 points apiece for the Wolfpack (11-2), who have won seven in a row. Richard Howell contributed 11 points and 13 rebounds for the hosts.
Kayel Locke poured in 21 points for the Spartans (2-9), losers in three straight and seven of eight. Derrell Armstrong put up 16 points and Kelvin McNeal had 10 points and as many rebounds in the setback.
McNeal's shot to open the second half pulled the Spartans within 43-38, but the Wolfpack slowly pulled away.
Leslie followed with a three-point play, Wood drained one from beyond the arc and Howell's slam made it 51-38.
Warren later scored five straight and it was 60-42 for NC State with just over six minutes played.
UNCG was only able to lower its deficit to 11, and 73-62 with 5:43 to play after a Locke free throw, but Howell and Brown made all four of their free- throw tries and Rodney Purvis countered a Locke layup and the hosts led 79-64 just over a minute later.
Both sides played close for the majority of the first half. McNeil's bucket with 7:46 to play before intermission gave the Spartans a 24-23 lead and his layup boosted the edge to three, before NC State gained separation with a 17-8 surge.
Tyler Lewis and Wood connected from long range early in the spurt, Purvis added a triple and Warren's layup closed out the run at 40-32 with 1:40 left.
NC State was up 43-36 at the break.
Game Notes
NC State improved to 8-0 against their in-state, non-conference rivals ... UNCG fell to 1-48 all time against competition from the Atlantic Coast Conference ... Brown led all players with nine assists.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.