ACC men’s hoops update

Miami 69, Boston College 58
12:00 PM
Coral Gables, Fla.
TV: RSN

NC State 72, Virginia 67
1:00 PM
Raleigh, N.C.
TV: Raycom
RALEIGH, N.C. – NC State never trailed in Saturday’s 72-67 victory over Virginia at the RBC Center, but it needed a handful of big plays by senior Courtney Fells to hold on to the win.

After leading by as many as 17 points in the second half, the Wolfpack allowed the Cavaliers to draw within one point with 8.7 seconds remaining in the contest. Fells was fouled immediately, and knocked down a pair of free throws to take the lead back to three points.

On the other end of the court, Fells fouled Virginia’s Sylven Landesberg with 3.5 seconds to play, a smart move given the time remaining on the clock. Landesberg,who had a team-high 16 points for the Cavs, missed the front end of his one-on-one opportunity and Fells grabbed the rebound.

He made both free throws for the final margin.

The Wolfpack (15-10 overall, 5-7 ACC) opened the second half with a 17-4 run that was highlighted by six consecutive points from junior reserve Dennis Horner, who hit a 3-point basket and made three free throws after being knocked down on another 3-point shot.

Freshman C.J. Williams led the Wolfpack with 16 points, topping his previous career high, which he set last Saturday against Georgia Tech, by five points. Sophomore Tracy Smith added 13 for the Pack, while junior Dennis Horner had 12. Senior Ben McCauley had 10 points and 10 rebounds, the eighth double-double of the season and 14th in the career of the Wolfpack’s second-leading scorer and top rebounder.

Lowe’s team jumped out to a 15-2 lead to start the game, as Virginia (9-14, 3-9) made just one of its first 12 field goal attempts. The lead eventually got to 18 points before a handful of things combined to allow the Cavaliers back in the contest.

NC State sophomore guard Javi Gonzalez picked up his third foul with six minutes to play, the Pack committed 10 turnovers in the first half and the offense went through a drought that allowed the Cavs to draw within two points just before halftime.

But Farnold Degand drove by the entire Virginia defense to score a layup with one second on the clock to regain a little momentum going into the lockerroom.

The Pack offense came out roaring in the second half, building its lead back to as much as 17 points in the second half.

The Wolfpack travels to Wake Forest Thursday for an 8 p.m. contest at Lawrence Joel Memorial Coliseum. The Pack downed the Demon Deacons 82-76 earlier this season in Raleigh.

by Tim Peeler at gopack.com
You may contact Tim Peeler at tim_peeler@ncsu.edu