Virginia tops NC State to earn spot in ACC Tournament semifinals :: WRAL.com

CHARLOTTE — After two regular-season losses to Virginia, NC State coach Will Wade was looking for a much better effort against the Cavaliers on Thursday afternoon in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament.

His Wolfpack definitely delivered a better game.

But it still wasn’t enough to upset the second-seeded Cavaliers, who held off NC State 81-74 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte. Virginia advances to play the winner of Louisville-Miami in Friday’s semifinals.

Trailing 78-74 in the final 25 seconds, Virginia’s Ugonna Onyenso blocked a lay-up attempt by Ven-Allen Lubin, and Matt Able missed a putback attempt. Virginia had nine blocked shots, eight by Onyenso, contributing to NC State’s poor shooting performance.

NC State shot a season-best 60.8% from the field in Wednesday’s victory against Pittsburgh, but Virginia held the ‘Pack to 32.3% shooting.

Paul McNeil led NC State with a game-high 26 points, including six made 3-pointers. Lubin had 14 points and 10 rebounds for NC State (20-13), which awaits its NCAA Tournament fate.

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The game was tight through the first half and into the second. NC State’s last lead came at 40-39 with 17:42 left in the second half, but Virginia used a 9-0 spurt later in the half to take control.

Virginia starting center Johann Grunloh, a 7-foot freshman, picked up two fouls in the first four minutes of the first half and another in the first 24 seconds of the second half. He finished with four points in 10 minutes. 

But Onyenso, another 7-footer, controlled the paint with eight points and six rebounds to go along with his eight blocks in 30 minutes.

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