NC State rallies late, but UNC holds on to win 81-79
RALEIGH -- That North Carolina’s Marcus Paige rediscovered his shooting touch Wednesday at PNC Arena was no surprise.
Paige loves the place. He likes the sight lines of the arena, the feel of the basketball. And, there's the competition.
One also had to figure N.C. State would push the 15th-ranked Tar Heels, that the Pack would play with relentless effort and toughness against its biggest rival, and especially after stunning Duke on Sunday.
That all unfolded in a game the Tar Heels would win 81-79, a game in which Paige had a season-high 23 points and did not miss from three-point range, but also a game in which the Pack battled to the final buzzer.
It came down to one last tip of the ball. Just two-tenths of a seconds remained when Wolfpack freshman Abdul-Malik Abu went to the foul line, making the first free throw, then missing the second as Cody Martin got a hand on the ball and Wolfpack fans collectively held their breath.
UNC coach Roy Williams, too. He has been a part of too many of these rival games, seen too many unexpected things happen. But the buzzer sounded and UNC had beaten the Pack for the 17th time in the past 18 games and improved Williams’ record to 23-2 against State while at UNC.
"We were awfully lucky, but you shoot 56 percent for the game and you have to feel good about that," Williams said.
Paige was a big part of it, going five-for-five on 3-pointers while also collecting nine assists. He didn't match the classic duel from a year ago, when State's T.J. Warren had 36 points and Paige 35, hitting seven 3's and making the winning basket, but the junior guard didn't look like someone who has been in a shooting slump most of the season.
N.C. State coach Mark Gottfried praised Paige, just as he did a year ago, saying, "He seems to enjoy playing against us.”
But Gottfried said the difference in the game was the offensive effectiveness of the Tar Heels' Kennedy Meeks, Brice Johnson and Isaiah Hicks. The three post players played were a combined 17-of-27 from the field in scoring 37 points as Meeks had 15 points, Hicks a career-high 12 off the bench and Johnson 10.
"Paige made some big, timely shots," Gottfried said. "But what complemented his play was those 17 baskets by the three bigs."
The Wolfpack (12-6 overall, 3-2 ACC) didn't shoot nearly as well as it did Sunday in knocking off Duke 87-75. Trevor Lacey, tightly guarded by 6-foot-6 J.P. Tokoto most of the game, had a nightmarish first half before helping the Pack make a late-game comeback and finish with 19 points.
The Tar Heels (13-4 overall, 3-1 ACC) used a 10-0 run in the second half to push ahead by 12. UNC twice forced turnovers and converted each into three-point plays by Justin Jackson and Tokoto.
Gottfried was upset by his team's lack of movement, quickness and energy in the first half. He did like the Pack's effort on the boards -- N.C. State had 12 offensive rebounds in the first half and 18 in the game -- but N.C. State shot 33.3 percent from the field in opening half and trailed 32-26.
But the Pack made things interesting late. UNC had an 11-point lead with three minutes to play in regulation, but the Pack's Ralston Turner (20 points) converted a four-point play, then drilled another 3.
"Once we got to moving and getting out and running some … it was a whole new ball game," Gottfried said.
A Lacey 3-pointer with 14 seconds left, his only 3 of the game, pulled the Pack within 76-74, and Tokoto then missed the second of two free throws. But UNC did not allow a 3-point shot as Pack point guard Cat Barber was fouled with 3.9 seconds remaining.
Barber hit both foul shots, Nate Britt hit a pair for UNC and then Lacey knocked in two -- the second by mistake. Paige cooly drained a pair at the line before Abu was fouled by Hicks.
"Another good basketball game," Gottfried said. "Unfortunately for us, we end up on the short end, and that's not any fun."
This story was originally published January 14, 2015 at 9:22 PM.