N. C. State stays hot, whips Cavs

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Posted 5:46AM on Thursday, March 3, 2005

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA - Jordan Collins scored 16 points and Julius Hodge had 17 points and eight assists Wednesday night as North Carolina State handed reeling Virginia its fourth loss in a row, 82-72. The Wolfpack (17-11, 7-8 Atlantic Coast Conference) won for the fourth time in five games and moved into a five-way tie for fourth in the league. They close the regular season Saturday at home against No. 4 Wake Forest. Virginia (13-13, 4-11) lost for the 12th time in 17 games since an 8-1 start and faces a regular season finale at Florida State on Sunday in a battle for last place in the conference. The Cavaliers trailed most of the way, pulling even twice in the first half and then again at 40 on T.J. Bannister's 15-footer with 17:03 left. But as they had the first two times, the Wolfpack immediately pulled away as Collins got free inside, Engin Atsur and Collins hit consecutive 3-pointers and Tony Bethel's two free throws quickly made it 50-40. Virginia rallied again, using a 9-4 run to get within 54-49, but the Wolfpack never let them get closer than five the rest of the way. The game was likely the final at University Hall for Virginia coach Pete Gillen, even though he has six years remaining on a contract paying him an average of $900,000 per year. The Cavaliers began the season with high expectations but will need to win the ACC tournament that begins next week to gain their second NCAA tourney berth in Gillen's seven seasons. The loss also made an NIT bid more than a little sketchy for the Cavaliers, who will need to win at Florida State or twice in the ACC tournament to have a chance of finishing with a .500 record or better. The Wolfpack, meantime, is finishing strong in its bid for NCAA consideration. Its only loss in five games came to No. 2 North Carolina. Hodge took only five shots, but his assist total was one more than Virginia managed. Bethel added 16 points and Ilian Evtimov 12. Sean Singletary led Virginia with 17 points before fouling out. Jason Cain and Devin Smith had 13 each, and Gary Forbes had 12. Elton Brown, who played just 4 minutes when the Cavaliers won 64-62 in Raleigh, N.C., on Feb. 5, started his final home game and struggled. He missed his first five free throws, dropping him to 3-for-18 from the line in his last two home games, then made one to loud, sarcastic applause. He finished with five points and seven rebounds. The Wolfpack led 12-2 after 6 minutes, but Virginia tied it for the second time at 31 on Singletary's drive. But Jordan Collins' 10-footer and Ilian Evtimov's 3-pointer at the buzzer made it 36-31 at the half. Before the game, the school honored senior captains Smith and Brown, both of whom went over 1,000 points this season and both of whom were making their last regular season appearances at University Hall.