Jayden Taylor’s aggressive start helps power NC State past Boston College to avoid 10th straight loss

Water was all over the padded chair in front of his locker in the bowels of the Lenovo Center. It splashed onto his locker doors adorned with NC State’s Tuffy logo, which seemed as if they went through a car wash. Don’t mind the puddle on the floor, either. 

For Wolfpack senior guard Jayden Taylor, whose white undershirt stuck to his body as it was soaked too, the water bottle shower from his teammates and coaching staff was the reward for a breakout performance. While he turned in his first double-figure scoring effort in the last five, the smile on his face wasn’t just because Taylor filled the stat sheet — particularly in the first half — but it was also because NC State snapped its nine-game losing streak. 

The team was dangerously close to setting a new program record for the most consecutive losses in the squad’s 114-year history, but instead, Taylor’s tone-setting 19 points and four steals helped NC State to a 70-62 win over Boston College on Saturday afternoon. 

Taylor, who averaged just 6.8 points on 30.8 percent shooting over the last five games, wasn’t down on himself about his up and down scoring. He was, however, looking for any way to help the Pack back into the win column — and it showed against the Eagles. 

The former Butler transfer put his energizer bunny style on full display in the first four minutes of the game as he logged the Wolfpack’s first 8 points with three steals in the process. 

“I thought Jayden Taylor set the tone for us early,” NC State coach Kevin Keatts said, “and really got after those guys.”

Where did that sense of urgency come from? Having March Madness heroes Casey Morsell, DJ Burns and DJ Horne sitting courtside to be honored after the latter duo’s first professional season overseas seemed to be enough inspiration for Taylor and the Wolfpack. 

“I just wanted to get a win,” Taylor said. “I’m not gonna lie, having DJ, DJ and Casey here gave me a lot of energy too. We made history with those guys. Seeing them in the building, it’s their night, I didn’t want to spoil it for them.”

Taylor’s aggression on both ends seemed to turn infectious as the team forced 16 turnovers, including 10 steals, which led to 15 total points. 

One of NC State’s top on-ball defenders, Taylor returned to his old form. It was the conversation he had with sophomore guard Dennis Parker Jr. on Friday, and he was able to back it up when the lights turned on in a crucial ACC tilt with Boston College. 

“JT came out ready to play,” said Parker, who finished with 7 points, five rebounds, two assists and a block off the bench. “It’s great for the team. That’s what we need him to do. He came out aggressive offensively and defensively. I hope he keeps playing like that because we’re going to win every game if he keeps playing like that.”

Taylor was able to be the Wolfpack’s most efficient player in the first half with 16 points as he made five of his first 10 shots, including a pair of 3-pointers, to help NC State to a 15-point lead by halftime. While his offense settled down with just 3 second-half points, Taylor still affected the game with multiple deflections, while eliminating driving lanes with his defense. 

Taylor wasn’t the only NC State player to cool off in the second half. The Wolfpack’s final 20 minutes were marred by inefficient shooting at 34.6 percent from the field, but the team did enough to hold on for the 8-point win over the Eagles. 

Now, NC State’s ACC Tournament hopes are still alive. The Pack, which is 1.5 games back from the last spot in the postseason going into Saturday night’s slate of games, has a chance to close the season on the right foot. NC State is looking to build on the win with a road trip to Chapel Hill and North Carolina on Wednesday night. 

The Wolfpack’s locker room was jovial for the first time this season after beating Boston College, but the team knows it is nowhere near done with what it needs to accomplish down the stretch. It has six games left, likely needing to win four more to have a comfortable chance of being invited to Charlotte next month. 

“We know we gotta get out of the bottom three to make the ACC Tournament — we’re the defending champs,” Taylor said. “It wouldn’t feel right to not be in the tournament because we won it last year. We know what’s at stake.”

NC State played with a purpose against Boston College, which demonstrated exactly what it can do. It’s all about carrying that energy moving forward. Taylor, who was the spark plug that the Pack’s engine used to ignite itself for a quick 11-point lead in the first five minutes on Saturday, will be a key part of that moving forward. 

And he’s well-aware of that. 

But for now, he’ll bask in the celebratory shower he was given for the rest of the weekend. Then, it’s onto preparing for the Tar Heels. The next few days inside the Dail Basketball Center might have a slightly different mood as the Pack prepares to take on its arch rival. 

“Winning,” Taylor said, “it just cures everything, honestly.”

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