The Packers are holding on for a wire-to-wire win over Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, Va. – The NC State men’s basketball team didn’t go away with a 73-69 win over Virginia Tech on Saturday night at Cassel Coliseum.

With the win, NC State improves to 13-4, 3-3 in the ACC while Virginia Tech falls to 11-5, 1-4 in the ACC.

Virginia Tech never led, but came back furiously in the final 63 seconds to close it out.

The Pack took an 11-point lead, 65-54, at A Terquavion Smith A jumper in the lane with 1:12 to play as the Hokies start to jam.

On VT’s next possession, Darius Maddox was fouled and made both free throws to cut the deficit to nine. The Pack then turned it over and Maddox buried a three-pointer to cut the Pack lead to 65-59 with 55 seconds left.

NC State turned it over again and Maddox hit another three-pointer to bring the Hokies within 65-62 with 47 seconds left.

Join Jarkel He was fouled and made two free throws to try to get the lead back to five, but Virginia Tech scored on the other end to get back within one possession, 67-64, with 31 seconds left.

Greg Gantt He sank a pair of free throws to give NC State a 68-64 lead and forced a turnover at the other end. Joining again knocked down both free throws to extend the lead to 6 with 22 seconds remaining.


Maddox made another three to cut the Pack’s lead in half, but Joyner again pushed the lead to two with a free kick.


Sean Pedula made two free throws to bring Virginia Tech within two with seven seconds left, but Smith calmly connected on both free throws to score with six seconds left and end the Hokies’ comeback attempt.


Smith led the Pack with 22 points and had team-highs in steals (3) and assists (3).


Joyner added 21 points and a season-high eight rebounds.



Casey Morsell He finished with 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting and DJ Burns added 10 points.



Greg Gantt He tied his career with nine rebounds.


NC State made its first five field goals to jump out to a 13-2 lead. The Hokies never got closer than seven points in the opening half, and the Pack ended the half on a 5-0 run to take their biggest lead of the opening 20 minutes into the locker room, 36-22.


This is the second straight game NC State has held an opponent to 22 first-half points and opened a double-digit halftime advantage.


NC State has a midweek bye and will be back in action next Saturday when they host No. 12^Th– Miami stage at PNC Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for noon and the game will be broadcast on the Regional Sports Network.