Raleigh, N.C. — NC State showed again Monday night that it can hang with a top-10 ACC rival for much of the game.
But No. 9 Duke — like North Carolina on Saturday — proved too much in the end for the Wolfpack, pulling away in the final minutes for a 79-64 win at PNC Arena in Raleigh.
It was the final regular-season home game for NC State, which honored seniors DJ Burns, DJ Horne, Casey Morsell and Alex Nunnally before the game.
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.
“We showed poise, which you have to show against these guys, and a lot of toughness,” Duke coach Jon Scheyer said.
NC State fell to 17-13 and 9-10 in the ACC. The Wolfpack’s final regular-season game is Saturday at Pittsburgh.
In its previous game, NC State led North Carolina by 10 early in the second half — only to see the Tar Heels roar back for a nine-point win.
The Wolfpack scored the game’s first nine points Monday night against the Blue Devils. And NC State led 46-45 with 12:10 left after Mohamed Diarra’s transition lay-up.
But Duke followed that with a 10-1 run, and the Wolfpack never got closer than five points the rest of the way. NC State coach Kevin Keatts said the Wolfpack had several defensive issues during that stretch.
“You can’t have those breakdowns,” NC State coach Kevin Keatts said. “… I thought they made us pay for the mistakes we made down the stretch.”
Jeremy Roach led Duke with 21 points. Guard Jared McCain scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half.
Freshman forward Sean Stewart had 12 points, five rebounds and three blocks in a season-high 26 minutes for the Blue Devils. He scored 16 points against LaSalle, the only other time he scored in double figures this season.
“He’s just gotten better and better,” Scheyer said. “Sean provides something we don’t have — he’s our best athlete, his versatility on defense, his touch around the basket, he’s a lob threat.”
Forward Kyle Filipowski was limited to four minutes in the first half after picking up two quick fouls. He didn’t score in the first half, but added nine points in the second.
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 had 19 offensive rebounds and NC State had 13 offensive rebounds.
“In March, you have to find a way to win to win ugly sometimes,” Scheyer said. “You have to find a way to win when you’re not at your best and that’s what we did.”
