RALEIGH, N.C. – Despite outscoring ACC-foe North Carolina State in the second half, the Maine Black Bears ultimately fell to the Wolfpack, 82-63 on Saturday afternoon at PNC Arena.
 
Pine Tree State products Andrew Fleming (19 pts, 9-13 FG) and Terion Moss (13 points, 4-7 FG, 4-6 FT)  led the Black Bears (0-4) in scoring on the afternoon. The duo combined to shoot an efficient 65 percent (13-20), helping Maine's season-high shooting percentage of 55.3 percent against the Wolfpack. Moss also provided four rebounds, two assists and three steals in 33 minutes of work.
 
Sergio El Darwich (11 pts, 5-9 FG) and Isaiah White (10 pts, 4-8 FG) also tallied double-figures in the contest for the Black Bears. Both El Darwich and White each grabbed a team-high five rebounds. El Darwich also distributed four of Maine's 17 assists.
 
N.C. State started the game on a 15-0 run, before Fleming got Maine on the scoreboard with a layup with 14:50 remaining in the first half. The Wolfpack (4-0) increased its lead to 18-2,  but Maine got back into the contest on a 9-1 run, which featured five points from Moss. The Black Bears trailed by just eight at 19-11.
 
The teams traded several points before the Wolfpack ensued on a 25-9 scoring charge, increasing their leads to 44-18 with 2:39 left in the first half. N.C. State would take a 48-24 advantage into the locker room at halftime.
 
The Wolfpack and Black Bears went back-and-forth on the score to begin the second frame. N.C. State would take a game-high 27-point lead at 76-49 with 5:30 left, but Maine chipped away at the lead late, ending the contest on 14-6 sprint to come within 19 points of the Wolfpack at the end of the contest.
 
The Black Bears were red-hot in the second half from the floor,  shooting 64 percent (16-25 FG) with 11 of 16 field goals coming off an assist. Fleming went 7-of-7 on field goal attempts in the second frame for 15 points. Maine turned the ball just five times in the final 20 minutes, as the Black Bears forced the Wolfpack to shoot just 36.4 percent (12-33 FG) to outscore N.C. State 39-34 in the second half.
 
Torin Dorn (15 pts), C.J. Bryce (14 pts) and Markelle Johnson (13 pts) all tallied 10-plus points for the Wolfpack. N.C. State limited its mistakes, with just two uncaused turnovers and also out-rebounded Maine 39-24.
 
N.C. Sate was averaging 100 points per game entering the contest, with the Black Bears holding the Wolfpack 18 points below its average.
 
Maine will play its second game of the Wolfpack Classic on Tuesday night, when the Black Bears take on North Texas. The opening tip at the Super Pit is slated for a 8:00 pm ET start.
 
-UMaine-