North Carolina State University Athletics
Virginia takes 70-62 Win over NC State
1/9/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BY TIM PEELER
RALEIGH, N.C. – NC State went cold over the last 10 minutes of Saturday's ACC home opener against Virginia and fell 70-62 at the RBC Center.
The Wolfpack twice build leads of 10 points and was ahead 43-33 when senior Farnold Degand hit one of two free throws with 12:38 remaining on the clock.
"Our lack of mental toughness was a disappointment," said NC State coach Sidney Lowe said. "To get a lead and let down mentally was very disappointing. We just didn't play well."
Virginia's Sammy Zeglinski hit a 3-pointer and NC State's Dennis Horner matched with a pull-up jumper from the free throw line to put his team ahead 45-31 with 10:51 to play.
But the Cavaliers got back in the game as the Wolfpack went cold from both the field and the free throw line. State made just four of its first 11 free throws in the second half. The Pack did not score again from the field after Horner's jumper until Horner converted a three-point play with 5:31 remaining.
Virginia, meanwhile, went to a four-guard offense that flustered the Wolfpack. The Cavs were also exceptional from the line, making 19 of 20 free throws for the game, including their last 17 attempts.
"We've gone with four guards in the past," said first-year Virginia coach Tony Bennett. "There's a risk you take on the boards, but sometimes it can give you the advantage offensively. Fortunately, it worked for us today."
The Pack had a semi-comfortable lead when Smith missed a short jumper in the lane and the Cavaliers answered with a 3-pointer by Jeff Jones from the top of the key, cutting the lead to just one point, 53-52.
The Wolfpack turned it over on its next possession, when Mustapha Farrakhan intercepted a C.J. Williams pass. The Cavaliers took the lead when Mike Scott tipped in a Sylven Landesberg miss. The Cavs scored on their next two possessions, and led 60-55 with 1:48 to play.
"We just didn't play smart today," Lowe said about his team. "We weren't smart offensively or defensively in crucial situations. We have to do a better job."
Junior Tracy Smith, who scored a team-high 18 for the game, got open in the lane to cut Virginia's lead to three, but Virginia sealed the win when Scott was fouled by senior Dennis Horner when Horner and Smith both tried to block Scott's shot in the paint.
Horner was the only other NC State player in double figures with 12. Virginia was led by Landesberg's 23 points. Scott added 14 and Zeglinski had 10.
"Our guys showed some real resiliency, especially when we were down by 10 points, and they fought back hard," Bennett said. "They got some tough stops on defense and made some adjustments on the other end. They wanted it so badly, and they were so tough mentally."
The Wolfpack travels to Tallahassee, Fla., on Wednesday to face Florida State, then returns to the RBC Center Saturday to play Clemson.
You may contact Tim Peeler at tim_peeler@ncsu.edu.
