CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. — N.C. State's chances of making the NCAA Tournament may be fast fading.

The Wolfpack was beaten 82-65 by Boston College on Thursday night, falling to 15-9 overall and 4-6 in the ACC. Junior guard Tyrese Rice tied his career high with 32 points for the Eagles (13-10, 4-6), who easily ended a six-game losing streak.

"This was a tough loss, it really was," NCSU coach Sidney Lowe said. "I really expected us to come out aggressive and establish ourselves early, and we didn’t do that.

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"We didn’t have enough guys to really show up and play tonight — rebounding and just making smart plays. Some of the efforts [were] very disappointing.'"

The Eagles, who built a 41-32 halftime lead, shot 56.6 percent from the field — going 7-for-14 on 3-pointers — and hustled to a 35-25 rebounding edge. Rakim Sanders, a 6-5, 225-pound freshman, had 14 points and a season-high 12 rebounds.

But if BC needed a timely basket or big play, Rice delivered.

"Tyrese set the tone early," State's Brandon Costner said. "He let us know early it was going to be a tough night guarding him."

State’s Javi Gonzalez tried to slow Rice but couldn’t. Neither could Marques Johnson.

"They executed their stuff pretty good and obviously Rice had control of the ball game," Lowe said. "He’s one of the best in the country, not just the ACC. He got a shot whenever he wanted to or created for someone else.

"When you have that type of player at that position, you’re always going to be in ball games, and 99 percent of the time he’s going to make the right decision or the right play."

State got off to a horrendous start, missing 11 of its first 14 shots in the game and never had the lead. The Pack trailed by nine points at halftime and was never closer than five points in the second half.

Freshman J.J. Hickson had 20 points, senior Gavin Grant 15 and Costner 14 for the Pack. Costner also had seven rebounds and seven assists.

02/14/08 at 21:04
I had to check my calendar. For a second, I thought it was December.

02/15/08 at 10:13
I have questions:

1. When does this team stop talking about showing up for every game and start doing it?

2. On a team that needs all the positive energy and emotion it can get, why does Ben McCauley get only 12 minutes of playing time?

3. If Sid believes defensive intensity should drive playing time, why isn't Brandon Costner planted on the bench?

4. Has this team embarrassed itself enough to find the drive to salvage a season that should have been better than this (and still could be)?

02/15/08 at 12:28
In other news, Arizona State beat #7 Stanford. (sorry, couldn't help myself)

02/15/08 at 15:43
I thought BC played well last night. I was amazed to see Simon Harris and Trevor Ferguson on the floor at the same time. If we were winning by 20, understandable, but last night, geez.

It almost seems as if the coaches are throwing people out there and hoping maybe this will work.

02/15/08 at 15:54
Sid may have been trying to send a message early to the starters, but, if so, it's no use if the starters still get 30+ minutes. BC did play well, but State's lack of defensive effort allows a lot of teams and players look very good.

I expected Tyrese Rice to have a great game, he is outstanding. But the Pack's lack of effort at the start of the game allowed BC to get on a roll and gain confidence as the game went on. If State had come out strong from the start like they have lately, I don't think BC would have been able to recover.