RALEIGH, NC – T.J. Weeks Jr. (Warwick, RI/Bishop Hendricken Catholic [UMass]) and Jay Alvarez (Waynesboro, PA/Waynesboro Area [Houston Christian]) scored 17 points apiece, but the Rider University men's basketball team fell at NC State, 89-63, Sunday afternoon at Lenovo Center. With the loss, the Broncs close out non-conference play at 4-9, while the Wolfpack improves to 8-4.  
 
After Weeks Jr. opened the scoring with a conventional three-point play, the Wolfpack scored the next eight points and never trailed again. NC State shot 65.4 percent (17-26) in the opening 20 minutes to build a lead of as many as 31 before taking a 52-23 advantage into the locker room. Weeks Jr. led Rider with 10 points at the break.

The Wolfpack's lead fluctuated between 25 and 34 for the duration of the second half. Alvarez scored 15 of his 17 points in the final 20 minutes.

Notes
- The Broncs faced NC State for the third time in the series, last visiting Raleigh in December 2016. The Wolfpack extended its lead in the series to 3-0.
- Cole McCabe (Miami Beach, FL/Miami Country Day/IMG Academy) made his first-career start for the Broncs.  
- Maurizio D'Alessandro (Charlottesville, VA/New Hampton Prep/Fork Union Military Academy) scored his first-career points on a three-pointer from the right wing with 21.0 seconds remaining in regulation.  
 
Broncs by the Numbers
- Alvarez scored 17 points on 8-of-15 shooting, including 1-of-4 from long range. He added a season-high eight rebounds, one off his career high of nine, accomplished twice last season at Houston Baptist, while also making a pair of steals.
- Weeks Jr. added 17 points and a team-high nine rebounds, going 3-for-9 from the floor, 1-for-5 from long range, and hitting the first 10 of his 11 free-throw attempts.
- Ruben Rodriguez (Reading, PA/Reading) added a season-high nine points to go along with four assists and three rebounds.
- Zion Cruz (Trenton, NJ/Donda [DePaul/Pratt CC]) added eight points on 4-of-16 shooting.
- NC State outshot the Broncs, 55.8 percent (29-52) to 39.3 percent (24-61) from the floor, including a 35.0 percent (7-20) to 25.0 percent (4-16) advantage from beyond the three-point arc.
- The Wolfpack also took a 70.6 percent (24-34) to 68.8 percent (11-16) edge from the free-throw line.
- The Broncs took a 36-32 edge on the glass, including a 16-8 advantage in offensive rebounds.
- Rider took a 15-10 edge in second-chance points.
- NC State outscored Rider, 18-8 off turnovers, 40-28 in the paint, 18-7 off fast breaks and 40-19 in bench scoring.   
   
Up Next
Following two weeks off, the Broncs return to action Sunday, Jan. 5, when they play host to Manhattan. Tip-off from Alumni Gym is scheduled for 2 p.m. on ESPN+.