RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Casey Morsell scored 15 points from five 3-pointers and North Carolina State pulled away early in the second half to beat Louisville 76-64 on Thursday night for its third straight win.
Terquavion Smith made three 3-pointers, Morsell added two more and Jack Clark converted a three-point play during a 20-2 run that gave N.C. State a 53-35 lead with 13:05 remaining. Louisville pulled within 10 points twice inside the final two minutes but didn’t get closer.
D.J. Burns Jr. scored 17 points to lead N.C. State (11-3, 1-2 Atlantic Coast Conference), which shot 10 of 26 from 3-point range and had 11 points from 17 turnovers.
Smith and Clark finished with 14 points apiece and combined for 11 of the Wolfpack’s 17 assists. Smith also made three 3-pointers. Jarkel Joiner added 13 points.
Sydney Curry had 16 points for Louisville (2-11, 0-3). El Ellis scored 10 of his 15 points from the free-throw line. Brandon Huntley-Hatfield added 12 points and 12 rebounds.
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Louisville plays at No. 19 Kentucky on New Year’s Eve.
N.C. State plays at Clemson on Dec. 30.
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