For the second straight game, the NC State Wolfpack battled to the end but fell short as UVA used a late 12-5 run to pull ahead and close out a 64-57 win over the Wolfpack Wednesday night inside PNC Arena.
NC State falls to 7-7 (3-5 ACC) while UVA improves to 12-3 overall maintaining their lead in the ACC with an 8-1 conference mark.
For the game, neither team shot over 50% with UVA finishing at 46% and NC State at 43%. The Wolfpack did win the rebound battle 31-24 but were almost doubled up at the free-throw line as UVA went 20-for-22. NC State finished just 7-for-12. The Wolfpack bench outmanned the Cavilers 15-0.
Both teams got off to decent starts on offense as NC State held a slim 9-7 lead at the first media timeout. Known for their defense, UVA allowed NC State to score three of their first four baskets inside the paint. UVA pulled ahead briefly 11-9 before Cole Hellems tied the game at 11 with a long two-point basket.
Back to back baskets for UVA gave them a 19-13 lead with just under 11 minutes left in the half. Hellems proceeded to go on a 5-0 run to trim the Caviler lead to 19-18 at the 7:54 media timeout. Neither team could pull away over the next four minutes as the score was tied at 22-22 with 3:23 left before the break. Cam Hayes hit a jumper just before the shot clock to end a 6-0 UVA run giving the Cavaliers the 28-24 lead at halftime.
UVA expanded its lead to 33-25 out of the break before a three-point play from Reece Beekman made it a 9 point game at 36-27. Two quick baskets from Hellems and Shakeel Moore cut the UVA lead to 36-31. Manny Bates added a layup to cut the Cavalier lead to 38-33 at the first media break of the half. A 5-1 run from UVA pushed their lead to 43-34 with 12:27 left as UVA took a timeout after two made free throws.
DJ Funderburk went on a personal 5-0 run to cut the UVA lead to 43-39 at the next media break. He later split a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to 43-42. Funderburk gave the Wolfpack a 44-43 lead after a steal and fast break dunk with 6:50 remaining.
A 5-0 run from UVA gave them a 50-46 lead before Hellems halted the Wolfpack scoring drought as Kevin Keatts called a timeout with 5:14 left in regulation with UVA ahead 50-48. The UVA lead exploded to 57-48 before Hellems stopped another NC State drought with a three with 2:57 left. With UVA leading 57-51, both teams traded baskets keeping the Caviler lead at six with under two minutes left.
Thomas Allen cut the UVA lead to 60-56 with 1:10 left. UVA answered with an easy dunk breaking the NC State fullcourt press which iced the game sending the Cavilers to a 64-57 victory.
Hellems led all scorers with 23 points. Bates and Funderburk followed with 9 points each. Trey Murphy III and Sam Hauser lead UVA with 18 points. Jay Huff followed with 12 points.
NC State returns to action Saturday as they travel to Boston College. Tipoff is slated for 12 pm.