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.
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…
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