North Carolina State University Athletics
North Carolina Knocks Off NC State, 76-63
2/28/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Tony Haynes
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- It takes sure ball handling and hot shooting to beat a team as good as North Carolina on its home floor. NC State had neither on Wednesday night at the Smith Center. All-everything guard Joseph Forte scored 27 points and point man Ronald Curry added 14 as the Tar Heels defeated NC State for the seventh straight time, 76-63.With the win, the Heels (23-4, 13-2) clinched at least a tie for the ACC regular season title. Carolina also wrapped up the top seed in next week's ACC Tournament in Atlanta.
"We had several goals; we wanted to win the league, the ACC Tournament and the National Championship. We're in a position to do those things," said North Carolina coach Matt Doherty. "It was a tough game. I thought their defense was outstanding and we didn't get many good looks all night."
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| NC State's Ron Kelley, right, blocks a shot by North Carolina's Joseph Forte (40). (AP Photo/Grant Halverson) |
Meanwhile, the offensive woes that have haunted NC State (13-14, 5-10) most of the year continued on Wednesday. To go along with its turnovers, the Pack was just 25-67 from the field for 37.3 percent. And it wasn't much better from the free throw line where State made only 8-of-15.
"Our effort level was phenomenal," Sendek said. "But very similar to our first game against them, the inability to put the ball in the basket as well as our 18 turnovers was difficult to surmount. I think we got some good shots. Carolina is a really good defensive team that leads the ACC in field goal percentage defense. With [Brendan] Haywood around the basket it's very difficult to score. He's a real force around the basket."
Just as he did in North Carolina's 60-52 win in Raleigh a month ago, Haywood blocked five shots. But he may have altered twice that many as NC State's big men flailed away anytime they got the ball close to the basket.
A 17-7 run over the final 5:45 of the opening half gave UNC a 34-27 lead at the break. NC State actually led by as many as five points midway through the opening half, but was eventually done in a by a flurry of turnovers that ignited the Carolina rally.
Opening with an aggressive fullcourt press, the Wolfpack managed to scored 11 points off of 10 Tar Heel turnovers over the first 15 minutes of the half. But the lead--and the momentum--would eventually shift. A runner by Forte, after a turnover, put Carolina ahead 21-20. Seconds later, Curry came up with a steal and layup to put the Heels ahead by three. The came back-to-back baskets by forward Jason Capel to put UNC out in front 28-20 with 2:58 remaining in the half.
A three-pointer by Archie Miller and a short jumper in the lane by Damon Thornton brought NC State back within three before Carolina went on another mini-run to end the half. Following another steal, Forte scored on a layup as time expired to make it 34-27, Tar Heels.
"That was an important run," Sendek said. "Once again, the Achilles heel was the turnovers."
Said Miller: "I still thought we were in good shape. We played hard all half. It was a two or three possession game at the start of the second half, especially when came back and cut it to a one possession game at the beginning of the second half."
At the start of the second stanza, Anthony Grundy scored his first basket of the game on a runner to bring State back within five. Forward Damien Wilkins then followed with his first points on a layup to cut UNC's lead down to 34-31.
But then Curry made perhaps the play of the game. After chasing down a tipped pass into the backcourt, the football quarterback turned point guard rushed the ball back up the floor and threw up a Hail Mary from the right wing just ahead of the shot clock. Somehow, the ball banked in off the glass for three points to put Carolina ahead by six again.
"Obviously, it was a lucky shot," Sendek. "Every once in a while that happens. Your team makes one that they didn't call bank on over the course of the season. That's just one of those shots. You've just got to quickly move onto the next play."
But following Curry's circus shot, the Pack would never get closer than six the rest of the way. Over the final 15 minutes, North Carolina repeatedly dissected NC State's press for easy shots. Forte was the main beneficiary, scoring 19 of his 27 points in the second half. The Tar Heels would lead by as many as 16 after intermission.
Along with Curry and Forte, forward Kris Lang and reserve Julius Peppers also reached double figures by scoring 10 points apiece.
Grundy and Kenny Inge each had 12 for the Wolfpack. Center Ron Kelley tallied 10 points and 12 rebounds for his first double-double of the year. The Wolfpack also had a big 20-9 advantage on the offensive boards.
With the loss, NC State assured itself of being the seventh seed in the ACC Tournament. The No. 7 seed will meet No.2 in the first round, meaning the Pack will play Duke when the Tournament begins on Friday, March 9.
