By JOE REEDY
Associated Press
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Dwayne Bacon scored 20 points for his second straight 20-plus game as Florida State held off North Carolina State 77-73 on Monday.
After the Wolfpack got within 75-73 on a pair of Anthony "Cat" Barber free throws, Bacon hit a jumper with 15 seconds remaining to extend the Seminoles’ lead to four points.
Bacon, who was named the ACC Rookie of the Week earlier in the day, was 8 of 17 from the field. Malik Beasley added 15 points and six rebounds for Florida State (15-7, 5-5 ACC), which has won three straight in conference for the first time in two years.
Barber, who is the conference’s leading scorer, had his third straight game of 30 or more points as he scored 31 for N.C. State (12-11, 2-8). Caleb Martin added 14 points, Abdul-Malik Abu 12 and Cody Martin 10.
The Seminoles led by 12, 38-26, at halftime but had to hold off a Wolfpack second-half rally. N.C. State got within a basket on a couple occasions but could not tie it.
Florida State went on a 14-2 run in the first half for a 22-10 lead. Five players scored for the Seminoles during the spurt as Montay Brandon had consecutive layups. Florida State led by as many as 16 with 3:30 remaining when Bacon hit a 3-pointer and held a 38-26 advantage at halftime.
N.C. State would make a game of it in the second half, as it went on an 11-2 run to get within 58-56 with 10:28 remaining. After an Abu dunk pulled the Wolfpack within 65-63, the Seminoles ran off eight straight points, including four by Bacon. Barber scored eight straight points to make it 73-71.
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TIP-INS
N.C. State: Barber had made 36 consecutive free throws before a miss late in the first half. It was his first miss since Jan. 10 against Wake Forest.
Florida State: Bacon is the first Seminoles’ player to be named ACC Rookie of the Week four times. Coming into the season, Michael Joiner had the school record when he won it three times in 2000-01. Bacon and Beasley have combined to win it six times this season. … Beasley has scored in double figures in his first 22 games, which is the fifth longest streak in ACC history for a player opening his career. Georgia Tech’s Stephon Marbury has the record with 26 in 1996.
UP NEXT
N.C. State is at Duke on Saturday.
Florida State travels to Wake Forest on Saturday.
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