The 10th-ranked Virginia Cavaliers completed a season sweep of the NC State Wolfpack with an 81-74 victory Thursday in the quarterfinals of the ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament.
Virginia was led by 16 points from Malik Thomas and 15 from Thijs De Ridder, while Jacari White added 13 as the Cavaliers improved to 28-5 on the season. Virginia pulled away in the second half by shooting 54.8% from the field and knocking down 6 of 13 shots from beyond the arc.
The win also carried extra meaning for Cavaliers head coach Ryan Odom, who earned the victory on the same floor where he famously coached UMBC Retrievers men’s basketball to a historic upset of Virginia in the 2018 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament — the first time a No. 16 seed defeated a No. 1 seed in tournament history.
Despite having lost twice to Virginia earlier this season by margins of 15 and 29 points, NC State came out aggressive early. The Wolfpack built a 22-16 lead behind eight early points from Van-Allen Lubin, executing a game plan that focused on attacking inside.
Lubin finished with 14 points, while Paul McNeil Jr. led NC State with 26. The Wolfpack kept the game competitive throughout despite having never led in their two previous meetings with Virginia.
Virginia gradually chipped away at the deficit and took its first lead late in the first half. De Ridder buried a corner 3-pointer just before halftime to give the Cavaliers a 33-32 advantage heading into the break.
The Cavaliers seized control early in the second half. A 3-pointer from Dallin Hall pushed Virginia’s lead into double digits as the Cavaliers began to find their offensive rhythm.
NC State refused to go away. McNeil drilled a 3-pointer with 26.8 seconds remaining to cut the deficit to four and the Wolfpack forced a turnover under their own basket on the ensuing rebound. But NC State missed two short-range attempts that could have made it a one-possession game, and Virginia sealed the win with free throws in the closing seconds.
NC State, now 20-13, enters Selection Sunday having lost seven of its last nine games, but the Wolfpack are still projected to receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament.
Virginia advances to Friday’s semifinals where it will face the Miami Hurricanes, who defeated the Louisville Cardinals 78-73 in another quarterfinal matchup. The Cavaliers defeated Miami 86-83 last month and will look to continue their strong play with a trip to the ACC championship game on the line.
