In the rematch in Chapel Hill on March 2, UNC pulled away for a 79-70 victory to clinch the outright ACC title. The Heels led by 16 in the second half before NC State made a late push to cover as 11-point underdogs. Bacot dominated with 23 points and 13 rebounds.
Overall, UNC has won 6 of the last 7 in the series and 10 of 13 against the spread. The Tar Heels lead the all-time series 120-59. This will be the first time the rivals have met in the ACC Tournament since 2012.
NC State s Implorable Run
NC State has been the Cinderella story of the ACC Tournament, becoming the first 10-seed ever to reach the championship game. The Wolfpack lost four straight to end the regular season at 17-14 overall and just 7-13 in ACC play. They barely squeaked into the tournament as the second-lowest seed.
But NC State has caught fire at the perfect time, reeling off four straight upset wins in four days to improbably reach the title game. In Friday s semifinals, NC State pulled off perhaps its most miraculous win yet.
Trailing Virginia 62-59 with under 10 seconds left, guard Michael O Connell banked in a desperation 30-foot three-pointer at the buzzer to force overtime. The Wolfpack dominated the extra period to prevail 73-65 and punch their ticket to the championship game.
The shot that kept NC State s ACC title hopes alive 😱
The Wolfpack win in OT to head to the championship game‼️
ESPN (@espn)
During this magical run, NC State has been led by the dynamic duo of senior guard DJ Horne (16.8 ppg) and junior forward DJ Burns (12.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg). Horne erupted for 25 points in the win over Syracuse, while Burns poured in 19 points and 8 rebounds to power the Wolfpack past Virginia.
Other key contributors have been junior guard Casey Morsell (11.6 ppg), freshman guard Jayden Taylor (12.5 ppg), and senior center Mohammed Diarra (5.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg). The Wolfpack bench has also provided a huge spark, outscoring Duke s reserves 21-0 in the quarterfinals.
For the season, NC State ranks 104th in the nation in scoring (76.2 ppg) and 213th in points allowed (72.8 ppg). They shoot 44.6% from the field, 34.9% from three, and 72.8% from the foul line. The Wolfpack are 198th in rebounding (34.9 rpg) and average 12.9 assists per game.
UNC Aims for ACC Double
While NC State is playing with house money, North Carolina has championship expectations. The Tar Heels rolled to the ACC regular season title with a 17-3 conference record. At 27-6 overall, they are in contention for a 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament.
UNC has taken care of business so far in the ACC Tournament. They opened with a 92-67 rout of 9-seed Florida State behind 18 points from ACC Player of the Year RJ Davis. In the semifinals, Davis exploded for 25 points to lead the Tar Heels to a hard-fought 72-65 win over 4-seed Pitt.
Davis, a junior guard, has been sensational all season, averaging 21.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. He s complimented by a pair of dominant big men in senior forward Armando Bacot (14.0 ppg, 10.1 rpg) and junior forward Harrison Ingram (12.2 ppg, 9.2 rpg). Bacot posted a double-double with 19 points and 11 boards against Pitt.
Graduate transfer guards Cormac Ryan (11.3 ppg) and Elliott Cadeau (6.5 ppg, 3.8 apg) round out the starting lineup. The Tar Heels also have great depth with key reserves like Seth Trimble, Jalen Washington, and Paxson Wojcik.
UNC boasts an elite offense, ranking 20th in the nation in scoring at 81.6 points per game. They are incredibly efficient, shooting 45.2% from the field, 35.7% from three, and 75.3% from the foul line (52nd in D-I). The Heels crash the glass, ranking 8th with 41.2 rebounds per game. Defensively, they allow 69.8 points per game, 117th in the country.
NC State vs UNC Player Props
College basketball player props are available for the marquee NC State vs UNC showdown in the ACC Title Game. Oddsmakers are forecasting a big night from RJ Davis, who is a top favorite in the . He s the only player with an over/under point total above 20.
