James, Rivers help No. 5 N.C. State hold off No. 24 North Carolina 63-59 in rivalry game
Posted February 1, 2024 10:34 p.m. EST
Updated February 1, 2024 11:23 p.m. EST
Aziaha James scored eight of her 10 points in the fourth quarter and fifth-ranked North Carolina State’s defense locked down late to hold off 24th-ranked rival North Carolina 63-59 on Thursday night.
Saniya Rivers had 14 points, nine rebounds and four assists for the Wolfpack (19-2, 7-2 Atlantic Coast Conference), which used a 9-0 burst in the fourth to go ahead for good. Then, N.C. State’s defense came up big down the stretch, holding the Tar Heels without a point on their final seven possessions to keep tenuous control of a tight game between teams near the top of the league standings.
Deja Kelly scored 21 points to lead the Tar Heels (15-7, 7-3), who were within range when freshman Reniya Kelly knocked down a clean look at a 3-pointer to bring UNC to within 62-59 at the 3:45 mark.
But that marked the Tar Heels’ last score, with Deja Kelly missing three jumpers or drives, while Lexi Donarski committed an offensive foul on a screen with 12.5 seconds left.
BIG PICTURE
UNC: The Tar Heels had been atop the ACC at 7-1 before last weekend’s stumble at Virginia. They had a quality shot to earn a marquee win against a nearby rival in front of a boisterous and hostile crowd, but couldn’t come up with a needed late basket on a night they shot 41.7%.
N.C. State: The Wolfpack’s three straight wins included road romps against Clemson and Boston College. N.C. State remained unbeaten at home despite shooting just 39.3%, including 3 of 16 from 3-point range.
UP NEXT
UNC: The Tar Heels face another test Sunday by hosting 17th-ranked and reigning ACC champion Virginia Tech.
N.C. State: No. 16 Louisville visits the Wolfpack on Monday for N.C. State’s 19th annual “Play4Kay” game, named in honor of late Wolfpack Hall of Fame coach Kay Yow to raise money for cancer research and honor cancer survivors. Yow died in January 2009 after a lengthy cancer fight.
