Box Score
Post-game press conference

RALEIGH, N.C., Dec. 22, 2011 -- The Northeastern men's basketball team dropped an 88-59 decision to a hot-shooting North Carolina State team on Thursday night in Raleigh. Just two days after limiting Louisiana Tech to 56 points--a season-low for a Northeastern opponent--the Huskies' defense surrendered its largest point total.

The Wolfpack shot a blistering 61 percent (19-31) in the second half, including 58 percent (7-12) from 3-point range. For the game, State shot 52 percent (33-64) from the floor and 55 percent (11-20) from beyond the arc. Northeastern connected on 38 percent (23-60) of its attempts, and was 22 percent (4-18) from long range. Northeastern is now 3-7 on the season, while N.C. State improves to 8-4.

Co-captains Jonathan Lee and Joel Smith led the Huskies with 15 points apiece. Lee also grabbed six rebounds. Kashief Edwards added eight points, while Kauri Black and Ryan Pierson each scored seven. Quincy Ford pulled down a team-best and career-high 10 rebounds.

Lorenzo Brown and C.J. Leslie led four Pack players in double-figures with 16 points each. Richard Howell and C.J. Williams pitched in with 14 points apiece. Howell also collected a game-high 12 rebounds, giving him a double-double.

After trailing by 13 at the half, the Huskies twice cut the margin to 10 in the early moments of the second half--first on a three by Smith and again on a jumper by Ford. Ford's basket at the 18:40 mark was as close as the visiting team would get. State responded with six-straight points to force a Northeastern timeout. The run continued out of the huddle, as the Pack methodically built a 19-point advantage, 51-32, with 15:41 remaining.

A Smith three was answered by five more Wolfpack points to push the margin to 21. The Huskies twice cut the lead to 15--the last time on two free throws by Edwards at the 8:37 mark. State, though, continued to have the hot hand, closing the game on a 26-12 run to set the final margin.

In the first half, State led by as many as 16 points, before taking a 13-point advantage into the locker room. The Wolfpack connected on 42 percent of its attempts, including 50 percent from beyond the arc, en route to a 38-25 halftime lead. Lee collected nine first-half points to lead Northeastern, while two State players--Leslie and Brown--scored in double-figures with 12 and 10, respectively.

After taking time off for the holidays, Northeastern will return to action on Dec. 30, when it travels to Burlington, Vt., for a 4:30 match-up with the Vermont Catamounts. The game will be the 68th meeting between the former America East Conference rivals, but the first since the Huskies joined the Colonial Athletic Association in 2005-06.

GAME NOTES
> The 88 points surrendered and the 29-point margin of defeat were both season-highs for Northeastern
> The Huskies turned the ball over only 10 times, tying their best mark of the season
> The Huskies--who entered the week as the CAA's second-best free throw shooting team--returned to form at the line, connecting on 82 percent of their attempts after a subpar performance on Tuesday
> Just a game after having his streak of consecutive double-figure-scoring games snapped, Jonathan Lee scored 15, and has now scored in double-figures in 20 of the last 22 games
> Freshman Quincy Ford pulled down a career-best 10 rebounds, just a game after collecting nine boards