Add one more to the Saint Louis tab. Travis Ford’s too.
NC State still owes them both.
The last time NC State saw Travis Ford was in Puerto Rico during the 2012-13 season. The last time the Wolfpack saw Saint Louis was a season later in the NCAA tournament.
NC State failed to repay both on Thursday in an 80-69 road loss to Saint Louis. Three stock market players behind them, and two of the top six players, the Wolfpack (3-1) led the Billikens (6-0) in the half, but ran out of gas.
The Wolfpack had not played since a victory over UMass-Lowell on December 3, when two positive COVID-19 tests temporarily halted the program.
With senior forward DJ Funderburk, freshman security guard Cam Hayes, and freshman forward Ebenezer Dowuona back in Raleigh, NC State achieved a career-high 20 points and seven blocks from sophomore forward Manny Bates.
Senior guards Devon Daniels scored 15 points and Braxton Beverly scored 13 points each for Kevin Keatts’ team.
NC State was crushed by Ford and a Marcus Smart-led Oklahoma State team in the Puerto Rico Tipoff on November 18, 2012.
The loss to the Billikens in the 2014 Round of 64 in Orlando, Florida, was more painful. The Wolfpack was leading with 14 points with 5 minutes to go, but star TJ Warren and crew were unable to shut down an experienced SLU team, which was the No. 5 seed in the region.
The Billikens won 83-80 in overtime. The teams had only met again on Thursday evening. NC State had delayed its ACC opener with Louisville due to COVID issues with the Cardinals. Keatts was looking for an opponent and Ford responded.
NC State returned to practice on Saturday with only six players and nine players made the trip on Thursday.
Bates had 10 points and six points in the first half when NC State built a 35-29 lead. Saint Louis, which defeated Indiana State on Tuesday, was led by guard Javonte Perkins by 20 points.
NC State led 55-48 on a dunk by Bates at 11:18 before the Billikens used a 12-3 run to take over the game. A pair of free throws by Perkins at 7:03 raised SLU 60-58 and it didn’t lag behind.
NC State is scheduled to meet Campbell at home on Saturday in its final non-conference matchup before ACC games begin against North Carolina on Tuesday.