Top NewsNC State forces OT with a buzzer-beater against Virginia

NC State forces OT with a buzzer-beater against Virginia

-

North Carolina State guard Michael O'Connell (12) shoots over Virginia guard Isaac McNeely (11) to tie the game 58-58 and send the game into overtime late in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals.  Friday, March 15, 2024, Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament at Washington.  (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

NC State picked up its fourth win in four nights in what could have been an even worse win.

The 10th-seeded Wolfpack defeated No. 3 seed Virginia 73-65 on a day that stunned No. 2 seed Duke in the quarterfinals of the ACC men's basketball tournament. NC State will face top-ranked UNC in the finals, beating Pitt.

In the final minute of the game, especially when they took a 58-52 lead with 51 seconds left, Virginia appeared on track to end the dream run. However, a foul on Ryan Dunn's 3-point attempt on the next possession allowed NC State to cut the lead to 58-55 with 43 seconds left.

Virginia came up empty on its next two possessions, the final one being a one-and-one free throw by Isaac McNeely with five seconds left. You can guess where this is going.

NC State has no deadlines. Virginia had a fault to give. Wolfpack guard Michael O'Connell drove into Virginia territory and had about four seconds to make a 3-pointer. It took a wild bank and a favorable spin to tie the game and he somehow did:

NC State outscored Virginia 73-65 and 15-7 in overtime.

It's hard to overstate how out of nowhere this run from NC State was. The Wolfpack finished the regular season 4-10 with losses in their final four games. They defeated conference doormat Louisville by nine points, then dominated Syracuse and convinced Duke to stay alive in Washington.

NC State is now one win away from becoming the outright bid stealer in March Madness and completing the five-win streak that Kemba Walker helped make UConn immortal. A UNC team ahead of them could clinch the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament with a win.

See also  Turkey faces a second round of elections after Erdogan survived the first test

UNC defeated NC State in both of their regular season games, a 67-54 win in Raleigh and a 79-70 win in Chapel Hill. The Wolfpack certainly weren't the opponent the Tar Heels expected in the finals, but that didn't mean they couldn't take them lightly.

Latest news

Understanding the Vital Role of Turtles in Ecosystems

Turtles have roamed the Earth for over 200 million years, making them one of the oldest reptile groups. Their...

The Federal Reserve is cutting interest rates by 0.50 percentage points starting in 2020

The Federal Reserve said Wednesday it would cut its benchmark interest rate by 0.50 percentage points, marking the first...

JD Souther, Songwriter Behind Eagles, Linda Ronstadt Hits, Dies at 78

John David "JD" Souther, a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame known for his co-written hits with...

Harvest Moon, Super Moon Brings Partial Lunar Eclipse: How and When to Watch | Space news

On the night of September 17, the Earth, Sun and Moon will create three celestial phenomena. In many places, depending...

North Carolina City With Record Rainfall: “Once in 1,000 Years”

Several cities in southeastern North Carolina saw historic rainfall on Monday. Rainfall was a particularly notable record along the...

You might also likeRELATED
Recommended to you