NC STATE 74, UALR 58

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock (3-3) could not overcome a slow start in the first half of its loss to North Carolina State (5-1) on Saturday at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C.

The Trojans missed their first six shots, while the Wolfpack started 4 of 7 — including two three-pointers — to take a 14-4 lead five minutes into the game. NC State extended the lead to 25-9 with 9:37 left in the first half. The run was broken up by two free throws from Kamani Johnson and a Ben Coupet jumper that cut the lead to 25-13, but the Wolfpack responded with a layup and a long three-pointer to push the lead to 30-13 with 7:37 remaining.

The Wolfpack then used a 14-2 run over a six-minute stretch to make it 3915 with three minutes left in the first half. UALR scored the last six points, though, cutting the deficit to 39-21 at the half.

“You can’t start out a game like we did against a team like NC State,” Coach Darrel Walker said in a news release. “They are too talented and too experienced, especially on their home court, to fall behind early.”

For the game, UALR shot 37.3% from the floor, its lowest percentage of the season. The Trojans made 22 of 59 shots and went 4 of 18 from the threepoint line (22.2%) as the Wolfpack forced 17 turnovers.

Coupet led the Trojans with 21 points, while Ruot Monyyong finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds. C.J. Bryce had 18 points to lead the Wolfpack and Markell Johnson chipped in with 12.