I’m not saying I believe in moral victories, but hypothetically if I did…#23 NC State’s 66-65 loss in overtime tonight to #3 Virginia would be the definition of it.
All heart.
That’s the only way you can even explain the Wolfpack taking the Cavaliers to Overtime.
On paper…it simply shouldn’t have been.
NC State shot 34.4% from the field, 26.9% from beyond the arch, and 66.7% from the free throw line. Virginia outshot them from all three regions, shooting 46.2%, 40%, and 73.7% respectively.
The Cavaliers out-rebounded the Wolfpack 39-35.
UVA led for 87.2% of the contest.
Typically, if a team is trailing Virginia by 14 points with 12 minutes to play…you might as well shut the game down under a mercy rule. Being down 14 to Virginia is like being down by 30 points due to their offensive style of play, and the fact that they are practically the best defensive team in the nation.
How did they do it?
Well, they forced UVA to uncharacteristically turn the ball over 16 times, and only turned the ball over 8 times themselves.
NC State also had 16 offensive rebounds compared to Virginia’s 11.
Even though he shot poorly on the night (3-11 FG), staying on brand, Markell Johnson scored 12 of his 14 points in the second half.
Honestly, Wyatt Walker was the player of the game for the Wolfpack, with 11 points, 7 rebounds (5 offensive) and 3 blocks.
Torin Dorn and Devon Daniels also finished in double figures, scoring 13 and 10 respectively.
Markell Johnson hit 2 free throws with 28 seconds to go in regulation. He had an opportunity to shoot 3 free-throws with 0.9 seconds left in OT to send the game to a second overtime. After missing the first, he hit the second, and accidentally made the third while trying to miss it.
It was that close.
Tony Bennet is 11-2 against NC State, and has never lost to the Wolfpack in the regular season. His average margin of victory over the Pack is 11.8 points. The average margin of victory the past three contests: 17.3.
Is it possible to lose a game, and feel even more confident than before the game that the basketball program is moving to another level.
I think so.
NC State’s brutal stretch will continue on Saturday, as they host the #12 Virginia Tech Hokies at Noon.