Wolfpack Defeats Orange, 71-57

Saturday, March 7

Raleigh, NC

12:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

18-13 (9-9)

North Carolina State

19-12 (10-8)

Syracuse

NC State

Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski

3/7/2015 1:36:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

RALEIGH, N.C. – A 27-2 NC State (19-12, 10-8) run that spanned both halves erased an eight-point Syracuse (18-13, 9-9) lead as the Orange went on to lose in the season finale, 71-57, at PNC Arena on Saturday.

In his final game in an Orange uniform, graduate student Rakeem Christmas recorded his 12th double-double of the season with 15 points and 12 rebounds, and added a game-high five blocked shots. Tyler Roberson led Syracuse with 16 points to go with his 12 rebounds for his sixth double-double. Michael Gbinije ended up with 10 points, five rebounds and five assists.

Syracuse utilized a balanced scoring attack to build an advantage in the first half. With the score knotted at 15-15, the Orange embarked on a 10-2 run that featured 3-pointers from Gbinije and Trevor Cooney and buckets from Christmas and Roberson. Behind 25-17, The Wolfpack answered with an 9-0 run to regain the lead and went into the intermission ahead, 26-25.

NC State extended its lead to 19, 55-36 with 10:04 left, The overall 27-2 stretch constructed by the Wolfpack included eight points each from Ralston Turner and Trevor Lacey. Syracuse responded with one last run. A 10-0 stretch, which was started by consecutive dunks from Roberson, narrowed the gap to nine, 57-48. Christmas had a three-point play, Roberson added another basket and Ron Patterson had a free throw during the surge. The host Wolfpack re-took control with nine unanswered points, including consecutive 3-pointers from Turner, and moved the margin to 66-48. NC State held on the rest of the way to clinch the triumph.

Syracuse's effort was hinderred by its shooting effort -- the Orange converted just 20-of-62 (.323) from the field, including 5-of-19 (.263) on 3-point attempts.

NC State was led by Lacey and Turner, who each scored 19 points.

Notes: Christmas scored in double digits for the 29th time in 31 games this season . . . He played in his 142^nd career game . . . It ranks in a sixth-place tie with Baye Moussa Keita on the Syracuse all-time list . . . Christmas made his 140^th start, tied for second with Derrick Coleman on the Orange list . . . Brandon Triche owns the mark with 147 . . . Christmas made his 110^th consecutive start . . . Joseph returned to the starting lineup after a one-game absence from the first unit . . . He started 30-of-31 games as a freshman . . . Syracuse had already clinched a winning season, the program's 44^th straight . . . Guard Carter Sanderson made the most of his final collegiate shot, converting a 3-pointer with 10 seconds left . . . It is the longest active streak in the Division I ranks.