NC State rebounds from first ACC loss. Takeaways from Wolfpack’s win over Louisville

N.C. State coach Kevin Keatts likes to call ACC road wins “precious” and much has been made of the ice-cream rewards that come with them.

The Wolfpack picked up another one Saturday, getting 27 points from D.J. Horne while holding off Louisville 89-83 at the KFC Yum! Center.

The Pack (12-4, 4-1 ACC) was dejected after its 67-54 loss Wednesday against No. 7 North Carolina at PNC Arena, but the players insisted that one loss, as much as it stung, would not lead to another at Louisville.

It didn’t. The Pack,now 3-0 on the road in the ACC this season., scored the first 12 points of the game to quickly take charge, then responded strongly in the second half after the aggressive Cardinals took the lead.

Horne, once on the floor, was the best player on it. He made nine of his 14 shots -- six of nine on 3-pointers -- in what Keatts called a “tremendous” effort.

The Cards (6-10, 1-4) tried to make a late push and pull out a win, just as they did at Miami this week when they scored the last nine points. Trailing 83-69, they pulled within 83-80 with 52 seconds remaining in regulation.

But Horne had some big moments late, driving for a basket and 3-point play for an 85-80 lead with 31 seconds left, then hitting a pair at the foul line with 14 seconds remaining for an 88-83 lead.

“He never flinched,” Keatts said.

Wolfpack guard Michael O’Connell, getting a start ahead of Horne Saturday, had 11 points and six assists for the Pack, which picked up earlier road wins at Boston College and Notre Dame.

The Pack’s D.J. Burns was in foul trouble and not a factor in the first half. But the big man hurt the Cards shooting and passing in the second half, finishing with 13 points and five assists.

The Pack, after missing 18 of 20 from 3-point range in the UNC game, was 10-of-20 Saturday on 3’s as O’Connell backed up Horne by making all three of his 3-pointers.

The Wolfpack had 17 assists on its 32 baskets and shot 54.2% from the field after its dismal 27% showing against UNC, offsetting its 15 turnovers. The Pack also overcame foul problems -- N.C. State had 24 personal fouls in the game.

Mohamed Diarra, active around the basket, gave the Wolfpack a lift off the bench with 11 rebounds and seven points in 18 minutes.

The Pack, which led 44-35 at the half, last won its first three ACC road games in 2001-02.

“Our composure was good,” Keatts said. “We didn’t panic. It’s a good win for us and we just want to continue to build on it.”

Three takeaways from the game:

Big bounce-back game

The Pack’s Horne insisted after the loss to Carolina that there would be an immediate bounce-back. Other Wolfpack players said the same about the transfer from Arizona State, who doesn’t lack for confidence.

Horne, held to six points in the loss to the Tar Heels, knocked down four of his six 3-pointers in the opening half Saturday in putting up 14 points and allowing the Pack to lead comfortably in the half.

There would be more of the same in the second half from Horne and there were others who contributed - D.J. Burns, O’Connell, Casey Morsell. All had important baskets after the Cards surged to take the lead 55-54.

O’Connell and Horne had back-to-back 3’s to give the Pack a 61-58 lead.

Horne said after the game that he and his teammates had a “bad taste in our mouth” after the UNC loss. The Wolfpack cleaned up a lot of mistakes from that game, he said.

New look for Pack

The Pack had a new look and much better start Saturday.

Keatts inserted O’Connell in the starting lineup, replacing Horne, who struggled shooting the ball against UNC. That proved to be the right move as the Pack scored the first 12 points of the game and Horne, once in the game, had his shooting touch.

“We can’t afford to give that team a 12-0 run,” Louisville coach Kenny Payne said. “That’s a good team.”

Keatts said after the game that Horne was “30 seconds late” for a video session. That’s why he sat to start, and Keatts said instead of “pouting played really well.”

The Pack never trailed in the opening half although the Cards made a push in the final minutes. The Wolfpack had nine turnovers and 13 personal fouls — Burns and Jayden Taylor both had two personals that limited their playing time.

Big push by Cards

The Cardinals were a different team to start the second half, hitting six of their first nine shots. Whatever coaching message Payne had for them at the break, it resonated.

The Cards quickly pulled within 46-44 with a 9-2 run. They tied the score 52-52 with 12:33 left on a Tre White shot and took their first lead, 55-54, on a Curtis Williams 3 from the corner.

With the Yum! Center crowd alive, O’Connell answered with a 3 from the key for the Pack. A few moments later, Horne had a 3 for a 61-58 lead.

“We stayed composed.” Keatts said. “I talked to our (players) before the game that this was going to be a tough game. Louisville was coming off a really good win and I knew that obviously once you get a taste for winning you want more. And we were coming off a loss.

“Who could get focused? Who could have the most energy?

Mike James had 20 points for the Cards but took just two 3-point shots, making one, after going 10-for-13 from 3 in the past two games.

“He has been shooting as well as anyone in the country the last two games and we wanted to run him off the 3-point line,” Keatts said.

Brandon Huntley-Hatfield, called a “tough matchup” by Keatts, had a double-double with 13 points and 10 boards.

“We’re earning respect but we’ve got to finish it off,” Payne said after the game. “I know we’re getting better. I feel we’re doing the right things.”