Stanford Edges Out N.C. State in Thrilling ACC Finale
In a thrilling conclusion to the Atlantic Coast Conference regular season, Stanford University edged out North Carolina State with a nail-biting 85-84 victory on Saturday. This contest marked the final game of the regular season, showcasing standout performances from both sides. Notably, Stanford’s Ebuka Okorie impressed with a stellar 33-point effort, and the Cardinal team excelled from beyond the arc, making 11 three-pointers throughout the match.
Season Records and Game Highlights
With this win, Stanford improved its overall record to 20-11, concluding the season at 9-9 in the ACC. Meanwhile, N.C. State fell to 19-12 and suffered its fourth consecutive loss, finishing with a 10-8 conference record.
The game shifted dramatically in the second half when Stanford launched a 13-3 scoring spree, boosting their lead to 71-61 at the 5:26 mark. Although N.C. State fought back, narrowing the gap to just two points twice in the final moments, Stanford’s Jeremy Dent-Smith consistently kept the opponents at bay with crucial free throws. As time dwindled, N.C. State’s Paul McNeil Jr. managed to sink a three-pointer with only 0.3 seconds remaining, rounding out the scoring.
Shooting Performance and Player Contributions
In terms of shooting performance, Stanford was particularly efficient, hitting 62% of their attempts in the second half and 18 of 29 overall, while their overall three-point shooting was 11 of 29. Okorie shone with a career-high five three-pointers, attaining this milestone with 13 successful field goals on 22 tries, marking his seventh game scoring 30 or more points — a record for ACC freshmen previously reached by Duke’s Marvin Bagley III in the 2017-18 season. Additionally, Jaylen Thompson contributed 15 points, with AJ Rohosy adding 14 and Dent-Smith scoring 10.
On the other side, N.C. State’s Ven-Allen Lubin led his team with 17 points and an impressive 11 rebounds, while Quadir Copeland supported with 16 points before fouling out late in the game. The Wolfpack had a challenging night at the free-throw line, converting 25 of their 34 attempts as compared to Stanford’s 8 of 11.
Looking Ahead
As the calendar turns to March, both teams prepare for the upcoming ACC Tournament set to commence on Tuesday in Charlotte, North Carolina, where they will look to make an impact in the postseason.
