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Smith leads NC State past NC Central 77-42

Jan 30, 2010 - 9:30 PM RALEIGH, N.C.(AP) -- Tracy Smith scored 23 points and North Carolina State took a break from ACC play with a 77-42 victory over North Carolina Central on Saturday.

The Wolfpack (14-8) improved to 84-11 in nonconference games at the RBC Center, which opened 11 seasons ago.

This one was a mismatch on paper, but N.C. State struggled against the Eagles (4-19), who took the lead early and didnt surrender it until 6:37 remained in the first half.

But a 15-2 run to close the first half gave N.C. State a 27-20 lead and N.C. Central made just two of its first 19 second-half shots as the Wolfpacks lead grew quickly.

Smiths layup with 8:47 remaining gave him 23 points on 11 shots and put the Wolfpack in front 53-34. Smith was 5-for-5 from the floor in the second half and 9-for-11 overall.

A winter storm helped limit attendance in the 19,700-seat building to less than 20 percent of capacity.