Virginia Tech beats NC State 73-68 in overtime
BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) Seth Allen and Jalen Hudson scored 23 points each to lift Virginia Tech past NC State 73-68 in overtime on Saturday.
Allen hit 9 of 19 from the floor, including three 3-pointers for the Hokies (9-5, 1-0 ACC), who snapped a five-game losing streak to the Wolfpack. His 3-pointer with 17 seconds remaining in regulation tied the game at 61.
Virginia Tech's Shane Henry blocked a layup attempt by NC State's Anthony ''Cat'' Barber with one second left in regulation that would have won the game for the Wolfpack.
Kerry Blackshear Jr. scored six of his nine points in overtime for the Hokies, including a basket with 1:23 to go that gave Virginia Tech the lead for good.
NC State (10-4, 0-1) made just one field goal and missed seven free throws in overtime.
Virginia Tech trailed by as many as 14 in the second half, but the Hokies scored 21 of the game's next 29 points following a 3-pointer by NC State's Caleb Martin that gave the Wolfpack a 43-29 lead with 15:52 remaining.
The Hokies grabbed their first lead of the second half, 52-51, on a dunk by Allen with 4:20 to go.
Virginia Tech rallied in the second half behind Hudson, who scored 19 of his season-high 23 in the second half and overtime. He scored 12 of the Hokies' 21 points during that second-half stretch. After taking just five shots in the first half, Hudson made 8 of 16 in the second half and regulation and hit 10 of 21 for the game before fouling out in overtime.
Barber scored 21 points to lead the Wolfpack, who saw their six-game winning streak end. But he hit just 7 of 21 from the floor. Caleb Martin scored 14 points, but he hit just 4 of 17 from the floor.
The Wolfpack shot a season-worst 32.3 percent. They came into the game as the ACC's worst-shooting team (42.6 percent).
TIP-INS
NC State: The Wolfpack lost their ACC opener for just the second time under coach Mark Gottfried. ... Barber was the only Power 5 player in the nation averaging at least 20 points, five rebounds and five assists per game coming into this one. He had seven rebounds and two assists. ... Martin hadn't scored in double figures in the past five games before his performance against the Hokies. ... NC State was just 12th in the ACC in free-throw percentage coming in at 68 percent (238 of 350). The Wolfpack shot just 63.6 percent (21 of 33) from the line against the Hokies.
Virginia Tech: The Hokies won their ACC opener for just the third time since joining the league for the 2004-05 season. They also won their league opener in 2006 and 2013. ... Justin Bibbs led the nation in 3-point percentage at 60 percent (33 of 55) coming into the game, but did not make a 3-pointer in a game for the second time this season (0 for 3). ... The Hokies beat Gottfried for the first time since he arrived in Raleigh four-plus years ago.
UP NEXT
NC State plays Louisville at home Wednesday.
Virginia Tech plays at home against Virginia on Monday.
