ACC men’s and women’s hoops from Thursday

Men’s results:
Wake Forest Downs NC State 85-78

James Johnson had career highs with 28 points and 18 rebounds to lead No. 13 Wake Forest past North Carolina State 85-78 on Thursday night.

Ishmael Smith added a season-high 18 points and Chas McFarland had 15 for the Demon Deacons (21-5, 8-5 Atlantic Coast Conference).

They shot 52.5 percent and led nearly all the way, but allowed most of an early 15-point lead to slip away.

Hurricanes Get Crucial Road Win Over Cavaliers

Jack McClinton scored just 11 points, well below his average, but hit a huge 3-pointer with 47 seconds to play on Thursday night to give Miami a two-possession cushion and the Hurricanes held on to beat Virginia 62-55.

The Hurricanes (17-10, 6-8 Atlantic Coast Conference) had been in a freefall of late, losing six of their last seven, but got some clutch shooting from McClinton when it mattered most down the stretch. His third 3-pointer gave Miami a 60-55 lead and he added two free throws with 19 seconds left.

Virginia (9-15, 3-10) had won two straight at home, but failed to score after Jeff Jones’ 3-pointer produced the eighth tie of the half at 55 with 3:51 remaining. The Cavaliers committed turnovers on three consecutive possessions after pulling even, causing them to fall behind.

Women’s results:
No. 9 Tar Heels Roll Past Hurricanes

Cetera DeGraffenreid scored 23 points and No. 9 North Carolina beat Miami 90-76 Thursday night.

Rashanda McCants added 21 points and Jessica Breland had 16 points and 14 rebounds for the Tar Heels (25-4, 10-3 Atlantic Coast Conference), who have won eight of nine heading into Sunday’s ACC regular-season finale at Duke.

Lamese James scored 17 points and Epiphany Woodson added 16 for the Hurricanes (13-15, 2-11), who lost their fourth consecutive game and sixth straight to the Tar Heels. They haven’t beaten North Carolina since joining the ACC.

Williams Leads Georgia Tech Past Hokies in Overtime, 73-68

It was not easy but the Georgia Tech women’s basketball team earned its 20th win for the third straight season with a 73-68 overtime victory over Virginia Tech (12-17, 2-12 ACC) Thursday night at Cassell Coliseum.

The Yellow Jackets (20-8, 7-6), who were playing without Alex Montgomery and Iasia Hemingway after both players fouled out late in the second half, were led by Jacqua Williams. The senior guard scored five of her team-high 19 points in overtime.

Williams went 8-12 from the free-throw line in the game and registered four steals. This is the first time in Georgia Tech women’s basketball history that the team has won at least 20 games in three straight seasons and only the fifth time ever the program has had hit the 20-win plateau.

Holston Shines Brightest on Senior Night
On senior night a first-year forward shined brightest for NC State in a 69-43 victory over Clemson Thursday in the final game of the season at Reynolds Coliseum.

Rightly so it was Shayla Fields’ night as one of two seniors playing their final game on Kay Yow Court. And the steady point guard did not disappoint with 16 points and a career-high seven assists, but freshman Bonae Holston put on a clinic. The Newport News, Va., native looked nearly unstoppable at both ends of the court with a career-high 24 points and hauled in 10 rebounds for her fourth double-double in league play.

Kristy Kenney, the other senior honored before the game, made her first college start a good one with six points and three boards in 15 minutes. She is a freshman athletically as one of two walk on players that joined the team in preseason workouts, but as a senior academically it was her final game at NC State. She plans to attend Veterinary school at NC State this fall.

*****from theacc.com