N.C. State coach Kevin Keatts promised his team would keep fighting.
The Wolfpack did against No. 14 Virginia on Wednesday, but didn’t have enough offensive punch against the Cavaliers, who maintained their poise and pulled away late for a 64-57 ACC road victory at PNC Arena.
Jericole Hellems carried the offense in the first half for the Pack (7-7, 2-6 ACC), and D.J. Funderburk made his presence felt in the second. But the Pack needed more help elsewhere and didn’t get it. Hellems finished with 23 points.
The Cavaliers (12-3, 8-1 ACC), stung by a 65-51 loss to Virginia Tech in which UVa coach Tony Bennett thought his team was too soft, took a 28-24 halftime lead and led by nine in the second half before the Wolfpack made a push.
Hellems had a career-high 24 points Sunday in a 76-73 loss at Syracuse, picking up some of the offensive load as the Pack played its first game without Devon Daniels, out for the season with a knee injury. Funderburk did not play in that game because of “university policies,” but the senior was back for Virginia.
Funderburk had an awful first half, missing shots and defensive assignments. But he was more assertive and effective in the second half on both ends of the court. His steal and dunk gave the Pack a 44-43 lead with seven minutes left.
The Cavaliers had a 50-48 lead with five minutes to play when the Pack showed some late-game nerves and its inexperience, with turnovers and bad shots costly. A 3-point play by Virginia’s Jay Huff and then easy backdoor dunk by Trey Murphy III ended the Pack’s hopes as Hellems lost his man on defense.
Another defensive breakdown by the Pack, after it clawed within 60-56, allowed Murphy another easy dunk on the backdoor play. Murphy and Sam Hauser each had 18 points for Virginia.
