RALEIGH, N.C. _ N.C. State was playing Louisville, the first-place team in the ACC and No. 6 in the country, even for about 13 minutes on Saturday.
Then Ryan McMahon happened.
The wispy, 185-pound fifth-year senior had made a total of five 3-pointers in the previous five games. With hobbled N.C. State guard Braxton Beverly trying to check him, McMahon made a career-high seven 3s to lead Louisville to a 77-57 win over N.C. State on Saturday.
McMahon made six 3s in the first half, including his first six attempts, and finished with a career-high 23 points. It wasn't until the final seconds of the half that he had an attempt so much as touch the rim. That seventh attempt bounced in and out but by that point the Cardinals (19-3, 10-1 ACC) had built a 41-26 lead.
Senior guard C.J. Bryce led N.C. State (14-8, 5-6 ACC) with 15 points after going the previous two games without scoring.
The first 13 minutes of the game were positive for the battered Wolfpack, which was coming off of back-to-back disappointing ACC losses.
N.C. State was trading punches with the Cards as they struggled to take care of the ball (11 turnovers in the first half). The Wolfpack had a 21-19 lead with 6:53 left in the half after a layup by D.J. Funderburk.
But McMahon caught fire as Beverly, who has been playing with a balky back, struggled to keep pace.
McMahon entered the game shooting 42.9% from the 3-point line but was a combined 5 of 14 in the previous five ACC games. He averaged 7.3 points in conference play before Saturday's outburst.
Bryce pumped some life into the building after a four-point play at 14:34 cut Louisville's lead to 48-43. N.C. State got as close as four points in the second half but McMahon provided the dagger with a 3 at 10:01 to put the Cards up 63-52.
Junior guard Devon Daniels continued his recent trend of good games for N.C. State with 12 points and five rebounds.
