RALEIGH, N.C. — Fans really would have loved to have seen this one live.
Played in a nearly empty PNC Arena, the N.C. State and North Carolina basketball rivalry came early this season, just three days before Christmas. The few fans in the building got the gift of being able to watch how the ACC contest played out.
N.C. State got Cam Hayes back but entered the game shorthanded again due to coronavirus issues in its program, but played its best basketball of the season. UNC, known for struggling early only to come back late and steal a win, was right on brand, and trailed by double-digits in the first half.
But Wolfpack coach Kevin Keatts and his team found a way to win, upsetting the No. 17 Tar Heels, 79-76 Tuesday night. It was Keatts’ first win over the Tar Heels.
North Carolina’s calling card this season had been trail early, only to fight back and win. But in a year when the unusual is normal, N.C. State wasn’t having any of it.
The Wolfpack led by seven at the break, but the Heels, who closed the first half on a 13-3 run, kept chipping away, and pulled to within two points six times and as close as one, 63-62, after a three-point play from Andrew Platek.
However, N.C. State senior Devon Daniels scored an old-fashioned three-point play on the other end and that lit a fire in the team. The Wolfpack went on a 12-2 run to go up double-digits with less than six minutes remaining and didn’t look back. By the time Manny Bates put back a miss with a dunk with 5:13 remaining, the Pack led by 13.
The Tar Heels, who only led once (2-0) came unglued, turning the ball over three times in a 2:22 span as the Wolfpack found their spark.
UNC wasn’t done. With consecutive baskets from Armando Bacot and Caleb Love, the Heels trailed by nine. N.C. State turned the ball over its next trip down the floor and UNC freshman Walker Kessler hit one of two from the foul line to make it 77-69 with 3:56 left in the game. Leaky Black’s steal and layup made it a six-point game the next trip and the pressure suddenly turned to the underdog Pack.
N.C. State used some clock, but UNC got a stop that led to a dunk by Love to cut it to four. UNC missed two chances to cut it to two after missed baskets by Garrison Brooks and Love. Bates came up with a big rebound, State turned it over again, but Love missed another close one near the basket, giving the ball back to the Wolfpack.
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Daniels hit one of two to push the lead to five with one minute remaining, the breathing room State needed.
For the sixth time in the last eight games, UNC trailed by double digits in the first half. N.C. State led by as many as 13, but the Tar Heels turned it on late. The Wolfpack went scoreless for the final 3:25 of the first half, and UNC started rolling, closing out the first 20 minutes on a 13-3 run.
The run was sparked on the defensive end - Andrew Platek took three charges - and the Heels hit five of six from the floor, trailing by single digits, 49-42, at the break.
UNC took advantage of its size, scoring 24 of its 42 points in the paint, and got its last two buckets from Brooks and Bacot. The taller Heels took advantage of Bates sitting on the bench with two fouls.
After peaking out at 67% from the floor, State missed its last two field goals.
The Wolfpack went up 49-33 after a triple from Braxton Beverly, but didn’t score again in the first half. N.C. State came out the gates swinging and got an unexpected spark from freshman guard Shakeel Moore.
Moore scored a season-high 13 points in eight minutes during the first half, going on a personal 8-0 run to put State ahead 23-15. The Wolfpack shot 67% from three in the first half, but the Tar Heels countered by connecting on 75% of their free throws and attacking the paint.
It was the eighth win over a ranked opponent for Keatts, six of those wins have come at home. With the win, N.C. State ended a five-game losing streak to UNC.
