Hellems scores 17 as NC State races past N. Florida, 86-51

Published 3:43 am Sunday, November 29, 2020

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Jericole Hellems scored 17 points on 7-for-12 shooting to lead four double-figure scorers and North Carolina State raced away from North Florida 86-51 Friday night to win a second straight game.

Cam Hayes added 13 points on 6-for-8 shooting with six assists, DJ Funderburk had 11 points and Manny Bates 10 with five blocked shots and eight rebounds for the Wolf Pack (2-0).

The Ospreys (0-2) were paced by three players with 11 points each — Carter Hendricksen, Jose Placer and Jadyn Parker.

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The Wolfpack picked up 10 steals and harried North Florida into 19 turnovers, holding the Ospreys to 38% shooting (21 of 56).

N.C. State shot 56% from the floor (34 for 61) with 20 assists.

Hellems scored 11 in the first half, including 7 of the team’s 10 during one stretch as N.C. State broke away from a 15-12 lead to take a 42-28 advantage into halftime. North Florida missed its first seven shots of the second half and never cut into the Wolfpack lead.

N.C. State’s Thomas Allen opened the second half with a 3-pointer, North Florida missed three straight shots on one possession, including consecutive dunk attempts by Josh Endicott, and Hellems scored on the fast break on the other end with a feed from Braxton Beverly.

A Hayes jumper pushed the lead above 20 points midway through the second half and North Florida was unable to get closer the rest of the way.

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