WRAL Sports Fan

WRALSportsFan

State Scores Upset Win Over Virginia

By By: Ryan Craig

Mar 9, 2007

Don’t count N.C. State out of the NCAA tournament yet. After a 79-71 win over Virginia in the Quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament, the Pack will face either Virginia Tech or Wake Forest in the Semis with the chance for an NCAA berth still very alive.

Things didn’t look good at the start for Sidney Lowe’s club, as the Wolfpack may have suffered a bit of a hangover after last night’s upset win over Duke. Junior Sean Singletary had 16 points in the first half as Virginia opened up a 14 point lead at the break.

State shot only 33% from the field in the first half, but upped that number to 74% after halftime, as they gradually chipped away at the Cavalier lead.

Ben McCauley laid the ball in with 9:14 left, as part of an 18-2 run for the Pack, to give them a lead they would not relinquish the rest of the way.

State was led by Brandon Costner once again with 22 points. Gavin Grant pitched in 18 points and five rebounds of his own to help the Pack score their second upset in as many days.

Virginia was led by Sean Singletary with 23 points. Senior J.R. Reynolds had a poor shooting night for the Cavaliers, going 3-15 from the field for 11 points.