Sunday, January 20, 2013

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- Freshman T.J. Warren scored 21 points while Richard Howell scored the go-ahead basket with 1:56 left to help No. 14 North Carolina State hold off Clemson 66-62 on Sunday night.

Howell finished with 11 points and 12 rebounds for the Wolfpack (15-3, 4-1 Atlantic Coast Conference), who never trailed yet still found itself in a tight game against a league opponent that wouldn't go away. N.C. State scored the game's first 10 points and led by nine early in the second half.

Ultimately, the Wolfpack held on, with Howell's three-point play breaking a tie and Scott Wood's 5-for-6 performance at the line in the final 28 seconds helping N.C. State keep its grip on the lead.

Devin Booker scored a career-high 27 points for the Tigers (10-7, 2-3), though he didn't score in the final 8 1/2 minutes or even get a shot in the final 6 1/2 minutes.

Laney product Rod Hall added 16 points, six assists and two steals for the Tigers. The point total is a season high, two off his career high.

Copyright 2013 Associated Press