Box Score NEW ORLEANS ? North Carolina State forwards Brandon Costner and Ben McCauley combined for 36 points as the Wolfpack overcame a sluggish start to take a 65-59 win at New Orleans on Saturday night at Lakefront Arena.
Coster had 19 points and a game-high seven rebounds, while McCauley had 17 points ? 11 in the second half ? to help NC State (1-0) pick up a win in its first season-opener on the road since 1997.
T.J. Worley paced UNO (0-1) with 19 points on 6-of-15 shooting, while newcomer Darrian McKinstry added 17 points, six assists and five steals.
The game marked the first game at Lakefront Arena since Feb. 21, 2005. The arena underwent a $26 million renovation following the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
NC State out-rebounded the Privateers 34-22 and held UNO to 41 percent shooting in the second half after the Privateers shot 50 percent in the opening frame.
The Wolfpack struggled ? missing 10 of their first 11 shots -- in the game's first eight minutes. UNO did not fare much better, as the teams combined for just 11 points and three field goals in the first seven minutes.
The Privateers eventually grabbed a 17-10 lead with 9:17 to play in the half before NC State rallied for a 31-31 tie at halftime.
A Courtney Fells dunk to start the second half gave NC State a lead it would never surrender. Fells' layup with 10:30 to play gave the visitors a 10-point cushion ? its largest lead of the night.
The victory helped the Wolfpack exact revenge on UNO, which upset NC State in Raleigh last season.
The Privateers will make their road debut at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Nicholls State.
