Virginia Tech Gets Past Pack Late

BLACKSBURG, Va. – Virginia Tech ended the game on a 9-0 run to beat NC State, 79-76, Wednesday night inside Cassell Coliseum.

With the loss, NC State falls to 9-8, 2-4 in the ACC while Virginia Tech improves to 8-9, 3-3 in the ACC.

NC State led by as many as 15 points in the second half and still had a 12 point lead, 72-60, with 6:38 to play when the Hokies went on a run. Virginia Tech went on a 7-0 spurt to get within five, but Ben Middlebrooks scored to stop the run and put the Pack by back up by seven, 74-67, with 3:37 to go.

After the Hokies closed within four, Marcus Hill made a driving lay-up with 2:47 to play to push NC State's lead back to six, but it proved to be the last points of the night for NC State.

Jaden Schutt scored the next seven points for Virginia Tech, hitting two free throws with 2.3 seconds left to give the Hokies a 77-76 lead. It was Virginia Tech's first lead since there were six minutes left in the first half.

Virginia Tech stole the Pack's ensuing inbounds pass as NC State could not get a chance at a potential game-winning shot.

NC State flipped the first half in the final eight minutes of the opening period. Virginia Tech made its sixth three of the game to take a 29-22 lead with eight minutes remaining, but it was all NC State for the remainder of the half. The Pack went on a 10-0 run to retake the lead. Virginia Tech tied the game at 32 and then again at 34, before the Pack went on another run, this one an 11-0 run to close the half and take a 45-34 advantage into the break.

NC State finished the opening half 8-of-13 from three-point range. The eight three-pointers are the most in a half for the Pack this season, but NC State could not find its stroke in the second half as the Pack went 0-for-6 from distance in the final 20 minutes.

Virginia Tech finished the game with 11 three-pointers, the most given up by NC State this season.

Jayden Taylor led NC State with 17 points while Middlebrooks added 13 and Hill finished with 12.

The Hokies were led by Tobi Lawal who had a game-high 22 points and added a game-high 11 rebounds. Schutt finished with 17 points while Ben Burnham chipped in 12.

NC State is back in action Saturday when it hosts ACC newcomer California. Tipoff at the Lenovo Center for 6 p.m. and the game will be televised on the ACC Network.

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Team Stats

Jayden Taylor

Ben Middlebrooks

Marcus Hill

Dontrez Styles

Players Mentioned

Marcus Hill

Ben Middlebrooks

Jayden Taylor