RALEIGH — DJ Horne made six 3-pointers and finished with a season-high 26 points, and NC State beat winless Detroit Mercy 83-66 on Saturday.
Horne was 9 of 15 from the floor and grabbed six rebounds to go with a career-best six assists. Ben Middlebrooks added 11 points, and DJ Burns Jr. and Dennis Parker Jr. each scored 10 points for the Wolfpack (9-3), which has won five of its last six games.
NC State shot 50% (32 of 64) from the floor and scored 21 points from 16 Detroit Mercy turnovers.
Donovann Toatley scored 21 points and Marcus Tankersley added 20 for Detroit Mercy (0-13). Edoardo Del Cadia chipped in 10 points.
NC State took the lead for good five minutes into the game and built a 43-36 halftime advantage. Horne, who entered averaging 17.4 points in his last five games, made four 3s and scored 20 points in the first half against the Titans.
Burns scored the first four points of the second half, Casey Morsell added a 3-pointer, and Parker capped the 9-0 surge with a dunk to stretch the Wolfpack’s lead to 52-36. Horne’s 3-pointer made it 76-52 with 5:55 to play.
NC State plays next at Notre Dame in its return to ACC play on Jan. 3.
UNC Asheville 79, Kennesaw State 70
ASHEVILLE — Drew Pember scored 21 points as UNC Asheville beat Kennesaw State 79-70 on Saturday.
Pember made 17 of 18 from free throws for the Bulldogs (8-6). Nicholas McMullen scored 19 points and added 11 rebounds and three blocks. Josh Banks finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
Terrell Burden finished with 22 points, seven assists and two steals for the Owls (9-4). Simeon Cottle added 12 points for Kennesaw State. In addition, Quincy Adekokoya had 12 points. The loss ended a five-game winning streak for the Owls.
