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RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) Mark Walton ran for three second-half touchdowns to help Miami beat North Carolina State 27-13 on Saturday.
Walton ran for 120 yards for the Hurricanes (7-4, 4-3 Atlantic Coast Conference), the last coming when he bounced off two tacklers for a 24-yard clinching score with 2:06 left.
Walton scored twice in the third quarter, breaking a 3-3 tie to put the Wolfpack (5-6, 2-5) in catch-up mode.
Matt Dayes ran for 76 yards and a touchdown to become N.C. State's first 1,000-yard rusher since 2002. But the Wolfpack committed just too many mistakes to make comeback, including an end-zone interception thrown by Ryan Finley, a penalty negating a fourth-quarter TD run by Dayes and Bra'Lon Cherry's fumbled punt return - all in the second half.
Finally, cornerback Jack Tocho committed a pass-interference penalty on third down with 2:56 left, giving Miami a first down and setting up Walton's clinching run.
BIG PICTURE
MIAMI: A week after securing bowl eligibility for the ninth straight season, the Hurricanes closed the regular season at 4-2 on the road for another positive sign in their first season under Mark Richt.
N.C. STATE: This game just about summed up the Wolfpack's season full of missed opportunities as N.C. State tried to become bowl eligible for the third straight year.
UP NEXT
MIAMI: The Hurricanes close the regular season at home against Duke, a year after beating the Blue Devils on an eight-lateral, final-play kickoff return that officials later determined shouldn't have counted in a controversial finish.
N.C. STATE: N.C. State closes the regular season with a trip to rival North Carolina for a Friday afternoon matchup over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The Wolfpack won the last visit there, a 35-7 romp in 2014.
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