CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Malik Thomas provided clutch late-game production to finish with 16 points and Thijs De Ridder scored 15 points as No. 10 Virginia fended off North Carolina State for an 81-74 victory in an Atlantic Coast Conference tournament’s quarterfinal Thursday afternoon.
Reserve Jacari White posted 13 points and Sam Lewis delivered all 12 of his points on 3-pointers for the second-seeded Cavaliers (28-4), who meet the Louisville-Miami winner in Friday night’s first semifinal. Virginia center Ugonna Onyenso’s eight blocked shots matched the second most in a game in the league tournament’s history.
Virginia defeated NC State in three matchups this season, but this was by far the closest encounters.
Paul McNeil Jr. drilled six 3s on the way to 26 points for seventh-seeded NC State (20-13). Ven-Allen Lubin contributed 14 points and 10 rebounds and Matt Able came off the bench for 12 points.
The Wolfpack, who have landed safely within most projections for the NCAA Tournament field, have lost seven of their last nine games. NC State defeated Pitt in Wednesday’s second round, extending its tournament winning streak to six games — five to win the 2024 event before failing to qualify last year.
NC State used 21-for-24 free-throw shooting to outscore Virginia by 10 points at the foul line.
A 9-0 run gave the Cavaliers a 55-45 lead that eventually reached a 12-point margin.
The Wolfpack were within 68-61 with more than five minutes to play. McNeil hit a 3-pointer to trim the gap to 70-64 before Thomas answered with a jumper for the Cavaliers.
Quadir Copeland’s three-point play at the 1:24 gave the Wolfpack a chance, but De Ridder’s drive for a bucket pushed Virginia to a 76-69 edge with 1:11 remaining.
McNeil’s 3 made it 78-74 with 27 seconds left, and then he made a steal, but NC State missed two shots on the ensuing possession.
NC State produced much better stretches than the earlier meetings with Virginia, when it never led.
Virginia had a 33-32 halftime lead despite going the opening half without any second-chance points.
Virginia defeated NC State for only the fourth time in 19 all-time ACC tournament meetings.
–Bob Sutton, Field Level Media
