NC State downs Florida State, advances to ACC Tournament semifinals

NC State might be the No. 11 seed in the ACC Tournament programs available at the Greensboro Coliseum, but for the second night in a row the Wolfpack certainly didn’t play the part. One night after upsetting No. 6 seed Clemson, NC State picked up another victory, picking off No. 3 seed Florida State 58-52 and earning a semi-final match up with No. 7 seed Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets knocked off No. 2 seed Maryland in the first game of the evening session, 69-64.

After committing 12 first half turnovers in an ugly first 20 minutes, the Wolfpack went to the locker room down three to the Seminoles, 25-28. In the second half, however, the Wolfpack turned it over just three times and outscored the ‘Noles by nine to pick up the six point victory.

Scott Wood put on a shooting display reminiscent of NC State’s trip to Florida State in January, a game in which Wood scored a career-high 31. On this night against the Noles, Wood poured in 18 points on 6 of 10 shooting. Two straight threes by Wood midway through the second half put NC State up by nine points and set the stage for the closing minutes.

Javi Gonzalez, who hurt his ankle against Clemson and was a game time decision against FSU, led NC State with 13 points, six assists, five rebounds and five steals. Tracy Smith, who suffered a hip injury in Friday night’s game, also finished with 13 points.

Gonzalez made the play of the night with two minutes remaining, stealing an entry pass before he fed Tracy Smith for a dunk which put NC State up 54-48.

Solomon Alabi led FSU with 13 points, nine rebounds and four blocks, but no other player scored in double figures.

Despite suffocating defense from Florida State for much of the night, the Wolfpack still managed to shoot 44 percent from the field and 46 percent from behind the arc, thanks mostly to Wood. State held the Seminoles to 38 percent shooting and Florida State shot just 3 of 18 from behind the arc. Go here for the full box score.