NC State muscles past UTEP 71-55

Sparkle Taylor scored 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds, but UTEP couldn’t keep NC State off the glass to drop their second straight at the Paradise Jam in the US Virgin Islands.

UTEP (1-4) took advantage of a slow NC State start and led 10-8 after the first quarter in where NC State shot 3-of-20 from the field.

A pair of free throws from Tamara Seda put the Miners ahead 21-16 at the 5:13 mark of the second quarter, then NC State made their move and left UTEP in the dust.

From there, the Wolfpack went on a 25-5 run that lasted until the 7:48 mark of the third quarter after a layup from Miah Spencer who scored a game high 17 points put NC State up 41-26.

NC State out rebounded UTEP 40-31, including 20 offensive boards that led to 19 second chance points for the Wolfpack.

UTEP shot 41.3 percent from the field in the game, and also turned the ball over 24 times.

“We probably had about 16 minutes there of good basketball,” UTEP head coach Keitha Adams said. “The first half we were really in a good place and at one point we were leading. Tonight’s game was a little bit similar to last night’s game as well. There were too many turnovers-24 turnovers led to 26 points for them- and then giving up 20 offensive rebounds for 19 points off second chance. There’s some things we can draw off of that’s positive but we’ve also got to learn from the things that are hurting us right now. We will keep working hard and need to continue to grow as a team.”

Taylor was the lone Miner to reach double figures, Seda added nine points and six rebounds. UTEP continues their struggles from long distance shooting just 2-of-7 from long range on the afternoon. gm

UTEP will wrap up their island adventure with 5-0 Kansas State Saturday at 1:15 p.m. Mountain Time.