ATLANTA -- N.C. State’s 61-52 ACC victory against Georgia Tech on Thursday was built on the memories of what happened the last time the two teams played.

It was a month ago, when the Yellow Jackets exposed the Wolfpack defensively, shooting 51 percent in an 82-71 win in Raleigh.

“That hurt us,” said Wolfpack Mark Gottfried.

But it also served N.C. State well on Thursday in Philips Arena. The Wolfpack (18-7, 7-3 ACC) clamped down defensively on Georgia Tech (9-15, 2-8), forcing the Yellow Jackets into a 32.2 percent shooting night on its way to a third consecutive triumph.

RALEIGH — With eight losses in its first 15 games, including the nonsensical variety to Mercer and Fordham, Georgia Tech isn't the kind of team a resurgent N.C. State was expected to lose to in ACC play.

Shouldas and couldas don't count in the standings, though, only the results. With 22 points from Glen Rice, the Yellow Jackets handed the Wolfpack a humbling 82-71 defeat on Wednesday night at the RBC Center, in one of the first setbacks of an otherwise relatively smooth first season for coach Mark Gottfried.

Updated 6:25 p.m.

DURHAM – The odds favored Duke on the play. Tight end Cooper Helfet knew it. That’s why quarterback Sean Renfree threw the ball to Helfet.

With less than three minutes left, Duke was driving for a game-tying touchdown against Georgia Tech. That’s when Renfree threw up a jump ball to Helfet, who is 6 feet 4. Guarding him was 5-10 cornerback Jemea Thomas.

Helfet jumped. Then Thomas leaped over Helfet. Thomas’ interception sealed Georgia Tech’s 38-31 victory over Duke on Saturday afternoon.

Updated 6:30 p.m.

ATLANTA – All North Carolina coach Everett Withers said he wanted Saturday was a chance to drive the ball down the field at the end for a possible win on the road.

“What more can you ask for a team?” he asked.

In the case of UNC’s 35-28 loss at No. 25 Georgia Tech (4-0, 1-0 ACC), perhaps a bit more time.

Or a few more defensive stops.

GREENSBORO -- Virginia Tech’s seniors, who have never been to the NCAA tournament, played Thursday night like they’re desperate to get in.

Senior guard Malcolm Delaney scored 15 points and senior forward Jeff Allen added 14 in a 59-43 defeat of Georgia Tech in the final first-round game of the night at the ACC tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum.

updated 6:30 p.m.

GREENSBORO -- Georgia Tech threw full-court presses, zones and everything else it had in its defensive arsenal at the Duke women’s basketball team.

None of those tactics worked against the top-seeded Blue Devils, who were slowed down but ultimately overcame the feisty fifth-seeded Yellow Jackets with a 74-66 victory in the semifinals of the ACC women’s basketball tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum.

Duke (28-3) started with a blazing offensive first half, opening a 10-point halftime lead, but distinguished itself defensively in the second half when the game grew tight over the final six minutes. The Yellow Jackets (23-10) remained within striking distance until the final seconds.

RALEIGH — Scott Wood's 20 points helped N.C. State to a 79-74 win over Georgia Tech on Saturday at the RBC Center.

Coming off disappointing losses to Maryland and North Carolina, the Pack got its fifth ACC win of the season but the Yellow Jackets made them earn it.

Updated at 11:05

DURHAM - The final margin of 22 points made it look like it was easy for Duke.

Senior guard Nolan Smith pointed to the scratches and bruises on his arms and legs to show that the 79-57 defeat of Georgia Tech on Sunday night at Cameron Indoor Stadium was more difficult than it looked.

“It was a physical [first] 10 minutes,” Smith said after scoring 20 of his 28 points in the second half. “There was a little knocking around. . .we just had to adjust.”

The No. 5-ranked Blue Devils did adjust after Georgia Tech scored 18 of the first 31 points. Freshman reserve guard Tyler Thornton scored six points in the final 4 minutes, 14 seconds of the first half as Duke turned a 26-26 tie into a 37-28 halftime advantage.

Correction: It marked UNC's lowest field goal percentage since 1956

ATLANTA – North Carolina coach Roy Williams felt so fortunate Sunday that his team was trailing by only one point at halftime, he figured his Tar Heels would pull off a third straight come-from-behind victory.

Not even close.

Georgia Tech, ranked last in the league in field goal percentage and field goal percentage defense, stifled the Tar Heels for a 78-58 win. UNC (12-5, 2-1 ACC) couldn’t stop Iman Shumpert (30 points) or Glen Rice Jr. (24) and turned the ball over 18 times. To top it off, the Heels went the final 8:47 of the game without hitting field goal.

DURHAM -- Vad Lee and Jamal Williams made sure that Durham Hillside advanced to the regional finals of the 4-A state football tournament.

Lee threw for 320 yards and accounted for three touchdowns, while Williams ran for 169 yards and scored four times, as the Hornets pulled away from Lee County on Friday night for a 42-22 victory.