BLACKSBURG, Va. — Virginia Tech's win over N.C. State on Wednesday was as easy as 1-2-3.
Malcolm Delaney's three consecutive 3-pointers, after N.C. State cut a 10-point lead to a basket, lifted the Hokies to a 71-59 win over the Wolfpack for their ninth ACC victory of the season.
N.C. State's pursuit of a three-game winning streak ended with Delaney's shooting exhibition. The ACC's leading scorer rained in a 3 over Javier Gonzalez, then Julius Mays before splashing a 25-footer to fuel a decisive 11-0 run.
State, 4-11 in the ACC, can still avoid the No. 12 seed in next week's ACC Tournament with either a win over Boston College on Sunday or a Miami loss to Florida State on Saturday.
The low point of the ACC season for the Wolfpack came on Feb. 10 when the Hokies ran a listless State team out of the RBC Center for a 72-52 win.
State (16-14) tried to atone for that effort, and continue a streak of end-season wins over Wake Forest and Miami. The Pack got seven points from Gonzalez in a 10-2 run early in the second half to cut Tech's lead to 34-32 at 16:17.
But the points dried up for State while Delaney, who finished with 21 points, heated up.
Delaney hit his first three of the sequence at 16:05 with Gonzalez draped all over him. That made it 37-32.
Then State began a streak of eight possessions, covering 5 minutes, without a point. In order: Tracy Smith missed a layup, Smith was called for an illegal screen, Dennis Horner turned the ball over, Horner missed a jumper, Farnold Degand missed two free throws — airballing the first, C.J. Williams missed a jumper, Smith traveled and Richard Howell turned the ball over.
In the meantime, Delaney hit a triple over Mays and then buried a deep, NBA 3 at 12:34 to make it 43-32.
A jumper by Williams finally broke the drought at 11:14 but it was too late.
It was far cry from how the game started. VT played like a team coming off of a 104-100 double-overtime loss to Maryland on Saturday. They were sluggish and tight while State led 17-13 and 20-17. A 14-2 run to close the half put the Hokies up 31-22 at the break and they didn't trail again.
At 9-6, Virginia Tech looks like one of the ACC's seven NCAA Tournament teams.
At 4-11, the Wolfpack returns home with one last shot to avoid a second last-place in three seasons.
Comments
Not 12th
Fri, 03/05/2010 - 14:54 — SurferI will stand by my original prediction at the beginning of the season, State will do better than 12th. Beat BC or Miami lose to FSU; both likely to happen and State ends up 11th.
Confession: I actually thought they could be as high as 9th or 10th.
thank god for!!!
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 09:56 — bluecat69bluecat69SKID!! GO DUKE!!!!!
Not unexpected
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 21:57 — JPDOhioDidn't see it, obviously, but it sounds like the Pack gave a decent effort. Good to see Javi have a second solid game in a row.
Need the win against BC this weekend. Good luck, guys. Come back strong.
not sure
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 22:08 — gvillegatranyone saw the game. didn't see it on anywhere. maybe that is what you were implying? i digress.
Only on-line
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 23:41 — JPDOhioI would have, but my daughter was in town for one night. So I had dinner with her and missed a 20 turnover performance. Good trade off.
Good Trade
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 10:08 — YAR8packSpending time with family should always take precedence over a sporting event...especially when that event involves NC State b-ball.
Ugh. Last night's game was the same story, just a different day.
I had hoped State would achieve a W for the NIT resume. Damn. That sounds really sad to say. What's even worse, if State doesn't beat BC this weekend, followed with at least a good win in the ACC tourney, there's no way in hades they even get considered for the NIT.
NIT
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 10:41 — JPDOhioIf State is going to have a shot at the NIT, they need a BC win and at least one win in the ACC Tourney. Fortunately, both games will be winnable, but only if they quit turning the ball over.
I never expected a win at Va Tech, but they were still in it after committing 2/3 of their turnovers. That was disappointing, considering that they had protected the ball pretty well the previous couple of games.
Bottom line-if they win 2 and drop the third, they are clearly on the NIT bubble with a shot, but no guarantee. A third win probably gets them in.
I think these guys want to keep playing (unlike last year's team which was playing at the end like they couldn't wait for the season to be over). Whether that corresponds to success on the court is the big question.
once again!!
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 16:22 — bluecat69bluecat69thank god for skid, ok, go duke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!