No. 10 Virginia beats NC State for third time this season 81-74 to advance in ACC Tournament

Advertisement

Advertise with us

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Malik Thomas scored 16 points, Thijs De Ridder added 15 and No. 10 Virginia defeated N.C. State for the third time this season, 81-74 on Thursday in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament quarterfinals.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Monthly Digital Subscription

$1 per week for 24 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*Billed as $4.00 plus GST every four weeks. After 24 weeks, price increases to the regular rate of $19.95 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

Monthly Digital Subscription

$4.99/week*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*Billed as $19.95 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles
Start now

No thanks

*Your next subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $16.99 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $23.99 plus GST every four weeks.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Malik Thomas scored 16 points, Thijs De Ridder added 15 and No. 10 Virginia defeated N.C. State for the third time this season, 81-74 on Thursday in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament quarterfinals.

Coach Ryan Odom earned the win on the same floor where he led 16th-seeded UMBC to a historic and shocking upset over then-No. 1 overall seed Virginia in the 2018 NCAA Tournament.

Jacari White added 13 points as the Cavaliers (28-5) shot 54.8% from the field in the second half and made 6 of 13 3-point attempts to pull away.

North Carolina State forward Darrion Williams, left, drives against Virginia forward Thijs de Ridder (28) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, March 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
North Carolina State forward Darrion Williams, left, drives against Virginia forward Thijs de Ridder (28) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, March 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Paul McNeil Jr. had 26 points and Van-Allen Lubin added 14 for the Wolfpack (20-13).

N.C. State had lost by 15 points at home and 29 points on the road earlier this season to Virginia and never led either game. Wolfpack coach Will Wade said before the game his team has “been outclassed” by the Cavaliers.

But N.C. State stormed to a 22-16 lead behind eight early points from Lubin as Wade seemed content to pound the ball inside.

The Cavaliers would battle back to take a 33-32 lead after De Ridder knocked down a corner 3 just before halftime and began to pull away after halftime when Dallin Hall drilled a 3 for a double-digit lead.

The Wolfpack cut the lead to four with 26.8 seconds left on a 3 by McNeil and then forced a turnover under their own basket on the ensuing rebound. But they missed two short-range shots and Virginia sealed the game with some late free throws.

Up next

N.C. State: Despite losing seven of their last nine games, the Wolfpack are expected to make the NCAA Tournament as an at-large team.

Virginia: Will face Miami, a 78-73 quarterfinal winner over No. 24 Louisville, in Friday’s semifinals. The Cavaliers beat the Hurricanes 86-83 last month.

___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

Report Error Submit a Tip

Uncategorized

LOAD MORE