1-Seed Virginia Advances to ACC Semifinals with 76-56 win over 8-Seed NC State
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Virginia (29-2) outscored NC State (22-11) 49-27 in the second half to win 76-56 on Thursday afternoon at the Spectrum Center to advance to the ACC Semifinals on Friday.
Junior Kyle Guy (Indianapolis, Ind.) scored 29 points, hitting seven 3-pointers, to lead the Cavaliers. Senior Jack Salt (Auckland, New Zealand) had a career-high 18 points, with 15 coming in the second half. Redshirt sophomore De’Andre Hunter added 16 points and junior Ty Jerome had 10 assists and four steals.
Virginia led in rebounds 33-29 and had a 26-24 edge in points in the paint. UVA shot 52.1 percent from the field and 47.6 percent beyond the arc. NC State shot 38.8 percent from the floor and UVA held them to 15 percent from 3-point range. Markell Johnson led the Wolfpack with 13 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Virginia jumped out to a 16-6 lead, that included eight consecutive points from Guy. NC State would go on an 18-2 run over a five-minute span to lead 24-18. Guy hit a three to halt the run, then UVA cut the lead to 29-27 at the half. The Cavaliers got a spark in the second half with a 22-6 run. Salt had eight points in the run, with two and-one plays. While Guy hit a three and was fouled for the four-point play. UVA capped the run with back-to-back threes by Guy and Hunter. Virginia continued extend its lead to as many as 23 in the game.
GAME BALL GOES TO
Jack Salt was 7-of-8 from the field and 4-for-5 from the free throw line with a career-high 18 points. Salt converted three and-ones on the afternoon, all coming in the second half. He also had six rebounds and a block.
NOTES
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UP NEXT
Virginia will play the winner of 4-seed Florida State and 5-seed Virginia Tech on Thursday, March 15 at 7 p.m. at the Spectrum Center.