RALEIGH – The NC State men’s basketball team closed the game with four consecutive defensive stops to get past 16th-ranked Miami in overtime, 83-81, Saturday afternoon in front a raucous PNC Arena crowd.
With the win, NC State improves to 14-4, 4-3 in the ACC, while Miami falls to 14-3, 5-2 in the ACC.
Sophomore forward Ernest Ross had the best game of his collegiate career on Saturday as he posted career-highs in points (17) and rebounds (9). The Alachua, Fla., native finished the game 8-of-10 from the field. He made both of his field goal attempts in the extra period and grabbed three rebounds. Ross’ second-chance lay-up with 30 seconds remaining in overtime gave the Pack the lead for good.
Terquavion Smith led NC State with 20 points. DJ Burns added 13 points, nine rebounds and a career-high seven assists. Jarkel Joiner added 11 points and did not commit a turnover for the fourth consecutive game.
NC State used a 14-4 run to close the first half to take a 42-32 advantage into the break. It was the third consecutive game that the Pack has led by double digits at halftime.
But Miami opened the second half on an 8-0 run to cut the Pack’s advantage to just two points barely two minutes into the second half.
NC State would push the lead back out to nine, 53-44, on a Greg Gantt three-point play with 15:22 to play, but the Canes again had a response, going on a 17-5 run to take a 61-58 lead with 9:13 left in regulation.
Miami would hold the lead until two LJ Thomas free throws put the Pack back in front, 65-64, with 4:20 to go, but the Canes immediately responded on the other end to retake the lead.
Miami held a three-point lead, 70-67, with 3:04 to go when Ross scored back-to-back baskets to put NC State in front, 71-70, with 1:52 to go.
Two Joiner free throws extended the Pack’s lead to three, but Miami’s Jordan Miller made a three-pointer with 28 seconds left in regulation and NC State missed a game-winning shot on the other end to send the game to overtime.
In overtime, Miami had a three-point lead, 81-78, with 2:13 to play after two Wong free throws, but the Canes wouldn’t score again as the Pack stopped Miami on four consecutive possessions to close overtime.
Ross laid in a pass from Burns to bring NC State within one and then rebounded a Joiner miss and score on a putback with 30 seconds left to give the Pack an 82-81 lead.
Ross rebounded the Miami miss on the other end and made one of two free throws with 12 seconds left to give the Pack a two point advantage.
Miami could not get a shot off on the other end as Wong lost the ball and the ensuing scrum resulted in a jump ball with 0.2 seconds left and NC State had the possession arrow.
NC State entered the game leading the ACC in turnover margin and the Pack finished the game plus-13 in that category as NC State forced 17 Miami turnovers, but had just four of its own.
The Pack finished the game with a 23-7 advantage in points off turnovers, a 16-3 advantage in second chance points and a 52-36 in points in the paint.
Miami shot 56.9 percent from the field compared to just 44 percent for NC State, but the Pack attempted 24 more shots (75 to 51) than the Canes.
NC State is back in action Tuesday when it travels to Atlanta to face Georgia Tech. Tipoff is schedule for 7 p.m. at McCamish Pavilion and the game will be televised on the ACC Network.
