D.J. Funderburk scored 14 points before fouling out and NC State overcame a second-half scoring drought of more than 10 minutes in a 53-51 victory against Virginia on Monday night.
C.J. Bryce added 13 points for the Wolfpack (14-5, 5-3 ACC), including a jumper with 27 seconds left after allowing the shot clock to race to near 0:00.
The victory ended an eight-game losing streak against the Cavaliers.
Virginia (12-6, 4-4) used a 15-0 run during the State drought that lasted 10:10 to take a 46-42 lead, bringing the crowd at John Paul Jones Arena back into the game.
But Jericole Hellems hit a 3-pointer for NC State with 3:38 left and, after a free throw by Mamadi Diakite for Virginia, Markell Johnson hit a 3-pointer before Hellems’ putback gave the Wolfpack a 50-47 lead.
Johnson and Bryce both missed the front end of one-and-one free throw opportunities, and Kihei Clark hit a pair for Virginia. Braxton Beverly made the first and missed the second for the Wolfpack with 7.2 seconds left, and the Cavaliers Casey Morsell was short on a contested 3 at the buzzer.
Clark led Virginia with 10 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.
The Wolfpack had used an 8-0 run to go ahead 42-31. Virginia helped out by going scoreless for more than 6.5 minutes. Francisco Caffaro, who had just been inserted into the game, ended the drought with 11:13 left.
The Wolfpack seemed on their way to a solid victory until the drought, during which they were 1-for-8 from the field with five turnovers and repeatedly let the shot clock run down into single digits, forcing bad shots.
In the Cavaliers’ continuing search for scoring help, Morsell had as many as three field goals for the first time since a 65-56 victory against Navy on Dec. 29th. He was 4-for-20 from the field in his last five games but finished the night 4-for-9 and his buzzer-beater attempt was closely guarded.
-- Hank Kurz (AP)
UVa Notes
Team Notes
The Cavaliers fell to 12-6, 4-4 ACC
UVa is 8-3 at home in 2019-20
UVa trailed at the half (28-26) for the sixth time (0-6)
NC State outscored UVa 14-5 to start the second half, gaining its largest advantage at 42-31
Francisco Caffaro’s layup ended UVA’s 6:37 scoring drought in the second half and ignited a 15-0 run by the Cavaliers
The 15-point scoring run was UVA’s largest of the season
Series Notes
The loss snapped UVA’s eight-game winning streak against NC State
Virginia is 68-82 all-time vs. NC State in the series that dates back to 1912-13
UVa has limited the Wolfpack to 56 or fewer points in eight of the last nine games
Tony Bennett is 13-3 vs. NC State as head coach at Virginia
UVa’s 51 points marked its lowest in the series since a 51-47 win on Feb. 11, 2015 in Raleigh
Player Notes
Double Figure Scorers: Kihei Clark (10)
Mamadi Diakite blocked three shots to move into third on UVA’s career list with 142
Casey Morsell tallied nine points, most since 10 vs. Navy on Dec. 29, 2019
Caffaro’s six points were his most since 10 vs. North Carolina on Dec. 8, 2019
