Associated Press
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. ó North Carolina State coach Sidney Lowe couldn’t help being impressed by his team’s start.
Tracy Smith had 16 points and 11 rebounds as North Carolina State beat Akron 66-45 at the Glenn Wilkes Classic on Friday.
Dennis Horner also scored 16 points for the Wolfpack (2-0), who took control early and built a 43-21 halftime lead.
“We were really good, especially defensively,” Lowe said. “We really got after them and set the tone.”
The Zips (0-2) got 10 points from Anthony Hitchens. Akron shot just 30.9 percent from the field (17 of 55).
“They’re very active. A tough ballclub,” Lowe said of Akron. “We told our guys for the last five days that these guys are very aggressive. They get up on you.”
Horner had five points, including a 3, and C.J. Williams hit a pair of jumpers as N.C. State jumped out to a 17-4 lead 6 minutes into the game.
Smith had consecutive baskets to extend the Wolfpack advantage to 23-7 in the first half. Horner’s second 3 of the game made it 31-12 with 7 minutes left in the half.
“Coach wanted us to come out and play hard defense,” Smith said. “We came down here with the attitude to win our games in the tournament.”
Smith closed out his 14-point first half on a 3-point play with 25 seconds remaining. Horner had 10 during the opening 20 minutes.
“It was important not to have a letdown,” Smith said of the second half. “We didn’t come out as intense as we did in the first half, but as the game went it picked up.”
NCSU improved to 15-2 in November in the last four seasons under Lowe and plays Austin Peay today.
No. 22 Clemson 89, UNCG 67
GREENSBORO ó Trevor Booker scored a season-high 17 points, and No. 22 Clemson routed North Carolina-Greensboro 89-67.
Milton Jennings added 14 points for the Tigers (3-0), Andre Young had 13 and David Potter finished with 11.
Clemson’s victory, its 29th straight in November since 2005, was its closest of the season.
La Salle 84, Davidson 70
CHARLESTON, S.C. ó Rodney Green scored 21 points and La Salle defeated Davidson 84-70 on Friday night.
Davidson finished with 13 turnovers and La Salle had 10.
Davidson (0-3) was led by Bryan Barr with 19 points.