Find a way to shorten this Atlantic Coast Conference game against North Carolina State to the point where the Eagles could compete until the final minutes, if not seconds.

The Eagles did all of that last night at Conte Forum, but still came up short, dropping a 56-51 decision that left them at 7-15 overall and 2-6 in the conference.

North Carolina State, led by Scott Wood’s 16 points, improved to 16-7, 5-3.

“We outscored them in the paint, we had more second-chance points, we had more offensive rebounds,’’ said Donahue. “For all of our young guys, I was really proud of that.’’

Both teams were on losing streaks. The Eagles had a more severe problem, with a four-game dip that seemed to be increasing in intensity each game.

For North Carolina State, a three-game winning streak was followed by losses to North Carolina and Virginia.

What first-year Wolfpack coach Mark Gottfried brought into Conte Forum was a team devoid of superstars but one characterized by balance. Each starter was averaging 11 points or better.

BC has been looking for the balance and consistency that will allow it to play a full 40 minutes of pedal-to-the-metal basketball rather than the 33-35 that has not been enough.

Since the Eagles seem incapable of that, Donahue tried to shorten this one by keeping the pace slow. Running deliberate plays - with screens, picks, and motion - the Eagles took their time setting up.

It worked through the first two television timeouts as the Wolfpack managed only a 15-11 edge. Matt Humphrey had 7 of the Eagles’ first 11 points to keep them close.

It was still working by the third timeout, at 6:33, as the Eagles had tied the game at 19-19.

The danger Donahue had to guard against was a letdown - the kind that has been part of the Eagles’ profile in almost every game this season. It didn’t happen in the first half, though, as the Wolfpack had only a 25-23 lead at the break.

“This was different than the last couple of games,’’ said Donahue, referencing double-digit losses to Miami and Virginia. “This went down to the last couple of possessions.’’

The pace picked up slightly in the second half, which is what North Carolina State wanted and BC feared. But with Lonnie Jackson scoring 7 of the Eagles’ first 11 points, they did not falter.

Jackson, who normally likes to play up-tempo, acknowledged the soundness of Donahue’s strategy.

“If that’s what it’s going to take to win, I’m definitely on board with that,’’ said Jackson, who finished with 10 points, while Humphrey led BC with 15. “It’s frustrating we’re not getting wins, but we sense as a team we are getting better.’’

The Eagles seemed ready to reverse the trend when two foul shots by Ryan Anderson cut the deficit to 48-46 with 2:18 left, but a basket by Richard Howell brought the Wolfpack lead to 4.

Wood, who has not missed a free throw all season, hit two to make it a 6-point lead, 52-46. He then hit his fourth and fifth of the game - making him 53 for 53 on the season - to make it 54-46 with 49 seconds left.

The Eagles kept pushing, but came up short - again.

Donahue said he will do anything to give his team a chance to win.

“I thought it worked,’’ he said. “I thought the kids embraced it. We just couldn’t get into an up-and-down game with this team.

“I don’t like to play this way. But my object here is to teach these guys how to compete and win, and that’s what we’re trying to do.’’

Competing is taking hold each game.

Winning is taking a little longer.

Mark Blaudschun can be reached at blaudschun@globe.com.