DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- If N.C State can ever put a second half together like its first halves down here in Florida…

“We’re going to be a force to be reckoned with,” N.C. State guard Julius Mays said.

Once again, N.C. State produced a suffocating first-half defensive performance. Once again, the Wolfpack found itself clinging to a lead late. Saturday, Austin Peay got within four points with a minute to go before the Wolfpack hung on for a 66-59 win.

BLACKSBURG, Va. - Four N.C. State turnovers - including two lost fumbles on the Wolfpack's first three plays on offense - helped Virginia Tech win 38-10 on Saturday at Lane Stadium.

Linebacker Cody Grimm forced three fumbles to tie an NCAA single-game record for the Hokies, and redshirt freshman Ryan Williams ran for four touchdowns to hand N.C. State (4-7, 1-6 ACC) its sixth loss in the last seven games.

BLACKSBURG, Va. - N.C. State play-by-play broadcaster Gary Hahn isn't working today's game at Virginia Tech because he is recovering from prostate cancer surgery.

Wolfpack Sports Marketing general manager Brian Asbill said the cancer was discovered in an early stage.

"His prospects for complete and total recovery are excellent," Asbill said.

Hahn, who is in his 20th season as the voice of the Wolfpack, was replaced on play-by-play by Tony Haynes, who usually serves as sideline reporter. Mark Thomas replaced Haynes on the sideline, and Johnny Evans remained in his usual position as color analyst.

BLACKSBURG, Va. - N.C. State offensive coordinator Dana Bible did not make the trip to Virginia Tech for today's 3:30 p.m. game, school sports information director Annabelle Myers said this afternoon.

Bible is undergoing medical tests of an undisclosed nature, Myers said. Running backs coach Jason Swepson will move from his usual position on the field up to the coaches' box and call plays for the Wolfpack.

DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. -- Say what you want about N.C. State's prospects for the long haul, but the Wolfpack hasn't missed a beat yet.

In what may have been one of the best halves by an N.C. State team in recent memory, the Wolfpack hit 10 of its first 14 shots on its way to a 22-point halftime lead and 66-45 win over Akron, the defending MAC champions and an NCAA Tournament team last year.

N.C. State reserve wide receiver Steven Howard is out for the final two games of the season with a knee injury according to the injury report the school released Thursday evening.

Howard made 13 catches for 186 yards this season as a sophomore.

The NCAA has granted N.C. State senior running back Toney Baker's request for an extra season of eligibility, coach Tom O'Brien announced Thursday after practice.

Baker missed all but one game over two seasons because of a knee injury before returning this season for the Wolfpack. Getting the extra year doesn't guarantee that Baker will return, though, because there is a chance he will enter the NFL draft after this season.

Joseph Uchebo, a 7-foot, 240-pound center who’s originally from Nigeria, has made an early commitment to N.C. State.

Uchebo is a sophomore at Oak Ridge (N.C.) Military Academy and played last season at Mount Zion Academy in Durham. Oak Ridge coach Stan Kowalewski said Uchebo run the floor well, has good passing ability and vision, and can score from 18 feet.

In case you missed the print edition, today's column looked at home-field advantage in the ACC.

Home, sweet home? Not quite, Tommy Lee, not in this state anyway.

N.C. State running back Toney Baker hasn't decided yet what he will do if the NCAA grants him a sixth season of eligibility.

Because Baker missed all but one game for two straight seasons with a serious knee injury, there's a chance that the NCAA will award him an extra season in 2010. N.C. State coach Tom O'Brien has said another healthier year with the Wolfpack would help Baker erase any doubts that NFL scouts might have about his knee.