RALEIGH – NC State basketball coach Kevin Keatts was ejected in the first half of the Wolfpack’s 83-76 win against Wake Forest on Tuesday.

“What a game. … I probably would be fined right now had we not won the game, but I’m gonna keep the focus on the most important thing – our players and our coaching staff," Keatts said in his postgame press conference.

"I thought they did a tremendous job throughout the game.”

After a drive by Wolfpack wing Dennis Parker Jr. and contact by Wake Forest’s Matthew Marsh, Keatts made his way toward midcourt to argue the no-call with referee Jeffrey Anderson.

Keatts was tagged with a technical foul at the 3:32 mark and seconds later was hit with a second technical and ejected. After four free throws by Kevin Miller, Wake Forest led 39-29.

“I deserved the technical, because I thought the call was awful. I thought they missed the call," Keatts said.

"Dennis, I thought he got fouled. In comparison to the way that all calls were made, I didn’t think I deserved to get tossed. I didn’t see the second one coming that quick. That will be something that we talk about. I absolutely knew what I was doing on the first (technical), but not the second one.”

It was Keatts' second ejection this season. He also had an early exit in NC State's loss to BYU in Las Vegas on Nov. 24.

NC State (13-4, 5-1 ACC) and Wake Forest (12-5, 4-2) entered the game in a four-way tie for a second in the ACC standings behind first-place UNC (13-3, 5-0).

NC State assistant coach Kareem Richardson appeared to take over as the Wolfpack’s acting head coach with Keatts off the court. Wake Forest carried a 45-35 lead into the locker room but NC State had a 48-31 advantage in the second half to complete the comeback victory.

ATHLETES TO WATCH: Which NC State athletes will be the Wolfpack’s best in 2024?

Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com or @RoddBaxley on X/Twitter.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: NC State basketball coach Kevin Keatts ejected vs. Wake Forest