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NC State beats Holy Cross 87-70

Jan 7, 2010 - 2:05 AM By JOEDY McCREARY AP Sports Writer

RALEIGH, N.C.(AP) -- Dennis Horner scored 16 of his 18 points in the second half, and North Carolina State placed five scorers in double figures in an 87-70 victory against Holy Cross on Wednesday night.

Tracy Smith had 19 points and Julius Mays added a season-high 15 for the slow-starting Wolfpack (11-4). They bounced back from their last-second overtime loss to Florida three nights earlier, shaking off a sluggish start with a 16-2 run early in the second half and pulling away late.

Devin Brown scored 21 points to lead Holy Cross (3-12). The Crusaders hit nearly as many 3-pointers (10) as 2-pointers (11), but managed only one field goal during the opening 5 1/2 minutes of the second half, when this game was all but decided.

Farnold Degand had 12 points and Scott Wood added 10 for the Wolfpack, who had five crack double figures for just the second time this season.