NC State returns to action tonight at 7:00 pm against Boston College. Here are some pregame notes on the Wolfpack and a preview of the Eagles.

NC STATE NOTEBOOK

Pack Tracks

NC State snapped its six-game losing streak with a 76-61 win over Georgia Tech last Tuesday night. The Pack shot 59.4 percent in the first half to take a 51-25 halftime lead. NC State increased its lead to as many as 30 points in the second half and cruised to victory.

- Freshman guard Terquavion Smith was named ACC Freshman of the Week for his efforts in the win over the Yellow Jackets. Smith was 9-of-14 shooting, including 6-of-8 from three-point range as he scored a game-high 26 points. He scored 18 of his 26 points in the first half to help the Pack jump to a large lead. Smith added nine rebounds, his best against an ACC opponent this season, and had a team-high three rebounds.

- Smith’s ACC Freshman of the Week honor was his third of the season. The Greenville, N.C. native is the second-highest scoring freshman in the ACC at 15.6 points per game. His scoring average is the second-best in program history for a freshman. He leads all players in the ACC with 79 three-pointers this season. He needs three more three-pointers to set the record for most three-pointers by a freshman in program history.

- Redshirt sophomore guard Dereon Seabron posted a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds at Georgia Tech. It was the 11th double-double of the season for the Norfolk, Va., native. Seabron has now led NC State in scoring 12 times this season, in rebounding 22 times, assists 16 times and steals eight times. He leads the Pack in all four statistical categories. Seabron is one of only just five DI players and three Power-five players (Wisconsin’s Johnny Davis and USC’s Isaiah Mobley) to lead their team in points, rebounds, assists and steals.

Wednesday Storylines

Wednesday is a matchup of the two best offensive rebounding teams in the ACC. NC State leads the ACC with an average of 12.0 offensive rebounds per game. Boston College is second in the ACC with an average of 11.4 offensive rebounds per game.

- Jericole Hellems has made 24 consecutive free throws and now ranks fourth in the ACC in free throw percentage at 84.7 percent. The Saint Louis, Mo., native has moved into 13th place on the Pack’s career free throw percentage list at 79.5 percent. Hellems last missed a free throw at the beginning of the second half in the Pack’s game against Florida State on Jan. 1.

- Climbing the scoring chart: Jericole Hellems has the opportunity to move up two spots on the Pack’s career scoring list on Wednesday. He enters the game trailing 43rd place Abdul-Malik Abu (2014-18; 1,174 points) by one point and trailing 42nd place Engin Atsür (2004-07; 1,181 points) by eight points.

- Terquavion Smith has hit 79 three-pointers which are the second-most in program history by a freshman.  He needs two more to tie Maverick Rowan (2015-16) who holds the freshman record with 81. Smith’s 79 three-pointers are currently tied for the 10th-most in a single season in program history. His current pace has him finishing the season with 94 which would tie with Ralston Turner (94 in 2014-15) as the fourth-most in a single-season in program history.

- After shooting 6-of-8 from three-point range in the win over Georgia Tech last Tuesday, Terquavion Smith is now 20-of-33 (60.6%) in the Pack’s four ACC wins this season.

- Biggest stat indicator for an NC State win? Opponent field goal percentage. In its 16 losses this season, NC State’s opponents are shooting a combined 49.8 percent from the field and 38.6 percent from three-point range. NC State is 1-10 this season if its opponent shoots over 50 percent from the field. In the Pack’s wins, opponents are shooting 41.6 percent from the field and 34.2 percent from three-point range.

NC State - Boston College Series

Wednesday is the 27th meeting between the two programs. NC State leads the all-time series, 15-12. 

- Kevin Keatts is 5-2 against Boston College as head coach of NC State, including a 3-0 record against the Eagles inside PNC Arena.

- Last season: NC State swept the season series with Boston College, winning 79-76 at PNC Arena and 81-65 at Conte Forum. Jericole Hellems averaged 15.5 points on 58.8 percent shooting in the two wins over Boston College last season.

BOSTON COLLEGE PREVIEW

• Boston College Roster

• Boston College Schedule

• Boston College Stats

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
 

KEY RESERVES
 

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Guard Makai Ashton-Langford:  A heralded recruit out of high school, Ashton-Langford is having a breakout season for BC as he leads the Eagles in scoring.  

He registered new career-highs in assists (9) and steals (4) against Florida State.

Ashton-Langford has been at his best late, as he is scoring 6.8 of his 12.0 points per game in the second half - nearly 57% of his scoring.

Guard Jaeden Zackery: The freshman guard has backed up as others have dealt with injuries recently, including DeMarr Langford.

Zackery was really good in the Florida State win, totaling 18 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and five steals while committing one turnover in 35 minutes of play.  Over the last 25 seasons, only one other player posted that stat line or better in an ACC game.

Zackery has been on a tear recently, averaging 13.6 points per game with 22 assists and just five turnovers in his last five games.

X-FACTOR

Center James Karnik: The burly post will be a tough matchup for NC State.  He has recorded double-doubles in back-to-back games, including 16 points and 11 rebounds in the Florida State win.  

For BC, it’s critical he plays well.  In five ACC wins, Karnik is averaging 15.2 points and 8.0 rebounds while shooting 76.2% (32-42) from the floor.  In 11 ACC losses, Karnik is posting 8.1 points and 4.8 boards per outing, making 44.0% (37-84) of his FG attempts.