North Florida Ospreys vs NC State Wolfpack Box Score on Nov 27, 2020

Junior forward Jericole Hellems scored 17 points as North Carolina State led from start to finish in its second win of the season, beating the University of North Florida 86-51 on Friday in Raleigh, N.C.

The Wolfpack (2-0) moved to 22-2 since 1999 in the cozy, 5,500-seat Reynolds Coliseum -- usually a big advantage during Atlantic Coast Conference play but less significant with very few fans allowed inside for the Mako Medical Wolfpack Invitational.

Cam Hayes scored 13 points, and DJ Funderburk netted 11. Manny Bates notched 10 points, eight rebounds and five blocked shots for the Wolfpack, who shot 55.7 percent from the floor and forced 19 turnovers.

Carter Hendricksen, Jose Placer and Jadyn Parker tallied 11 points each for North Florida (0-2), which lost its opener 80-67 loss to Eastern Kentucky on Wednesday.

Last season the Ospreys topped the nation with 391 successful 3-pointers -- leading to the team nickname "The Birds of Trey" -- and shot an Atlantic Sun-high 37.9 percent from beyond the arc.

But UNF made just 7 of 18 3-pointers and shot 37.5 percent overall.

In the first meeting between the two schools, Funderburk scored a quick five points in the opening four minutes as the Wolfpack built a 13-3 advantage and soon led by as many as 12.

But the visitors battled back to cut it to 15-12 on Placer's layup -- the closest they would get to N.C. State.

The ACC's school size and athleticism -- big men Funderburk and Bates combined for 10 first-half boards -- helped them extend the advantage during the remainder of the half to 42-28 at the break.

The Wolfpack shot 51.5 percent from the field and held the Ospreys to 42.3 percent shooting in the first half.

UNF also hurt itself by committing 11 turnovers and going just 4 of 9 from long range.

Wolfpack coach Kevin Keatts started a different five in the second half and the group responded by outscoring the Ospreys 44-23 over the final 20 minutes.

--Field Level Media