The NC State Wolfpack continued their winning ways away from home collecting their fourth straight road win Wednesday evening over UVA 68-61.
The win gave the Wolfpack their fourth straight ACC road win for the first time since 1974.
With the victory, NC State improves to 11-9 overall and 7-8 in the ACC. UVA has dropped their third straight game and now sits at 15-6 and 11-4 in ACC action.
NC State jumped out to an early 5-0 lead before Cam Hayes’s second three extended the Wolfpack lead to 8-2. Cole Hellems added another three to go ahead 11-4 at the first media timeout with 14:34 left in the opening stanza.
Hellems scored again, inside this time, to push the NC State lead to 15-4 as UVA endured a four-minute scoring drought during the second frame of the half. UVA would finally end their drought that went as long as five and a half minutes, but the Wolfpack offense remained hot as their lead grew to 21-10. Manny Bates then fed a cutting Dereon Seabron to make the score 24-10 with just under six minutes left. UVA answered with a 7-1 run to trim the NC State lead to 25-17 with 3:45 left in the half.
Out of the break, Jay Huff went on a 4-0 run to force a quick NC State timeout as the Wolfpack lead slimmed down to 25-21. The Wolfpack responded after the timeout to score four straight before UVA beat the buzzer with a basket to make the score 29-23 at the half.
UVA returned to court looking like a differnt team as Sam Hauser knocked down back-to -back three pointers tying the score at 29 all. Both teams proceeded to trade baskets before NC State went on a 6-0 run going ahead 39-35. The run continued to 12-2 putting the Wolfpack ahead 45-37, forcing a Tony Bennet timeout.
The NC State lead grew to as much as 10 after a DJ Funderburk dunk before a Huff three cut the Wolfpack lead to 53-46 at the final media timeout. Hayes biggest three of the night came just beating the shot clock to keep NC State ahead 57-49. Both squads proceeded to trade pairs of free throws making the score 59-53 in favor of NC State with 1:01 remaining in game.
Hayes added four free throws before Braxton Beverly added a pair followed by a three from Hauser to trim the Wolfpack lead to just four 65-61 with 16.8 left. After a NC State turnover, UVA missed a three point shot that was rebounded by Seabron who then split a pair of free throws. A UVA turnover on the following possession iced the game, extending NC State’s win streak with the huge 68-61 victory.
Hayes led the Wolfpack with 16 points, followed by Funderburk with 14 points and 6 rebounds. Shakeel Moore rounded out the double figure NC State scorers with 12 points. Hauser led the Cavilers and all scorers with 21 points.
NC State returns to action Sunday as they face Pittsburgh inside PNC Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 PM.
