NC State wins odd affair in Miami, 56-55

Box Score

In what was a strange game, to put it mildly, NC State managed to control a significant portion of the contest and ultimately hold off a late rally to beat the Miami Hurricanes in Coral Gables. T.J. Warren had a huge second half to carry the team to victory after the Wolfpack went cold from outside.

Ralston Turner was the hero of the first half, knocking down four threes and scoring 16 points. State finished the first 20 minutes 7-of-12 from three, an incredibly rare feat of shooting accuracy for this team that of course couldn't possibly be maintained. The Wolfpack reverted in the extreme, missing every single three-point try in the second half.

Fortunately, Warren was there to take over. He accounted for 19 of the Pack's 24 second-half points, and he was one of just two State players to make a shot from the field in the half. That's right--two guys made a shot (only three scored) and NC State won anyway. The team's last field goal was a Jordan Vandenberg layup with about 6:30 left. The rest was Warren creating and getting to the line, where he was money. And it turned out the Wolfpack needed every last one of those free throws.

Miami had a chance to tie the game at the line with 3.5 seconds to go, but after hitting the first, Raphael Akpejiori missed his second try, and Kyle Washington was there for the board. Washington was fouled but also swung his elbows during the play, leading to a preposterously lengthy review before it was finally determined that no flagrant foul had been committed.

Washington missed both attempts, and Miami's heave--impeded by Washington, who committed a foul that was not called--was off. Them's the breaks, Miami.

Today is the 7th time this season that NC State's T.J. Warren scored at least 27 points; no other ACC player has more than 4 such games.

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 8, 2014