College Basketball : N.C. State Upsets Las Vegas, and Valvano Faints, 80-73

North Carolina State struggled at the outset of the season, but Coach Jim Valvano said Wednesday, after an upset of 12th-ranked Nevada Las Vegas, that his Wolfpack is developing into a strong team.

“You can see we’re capable of becoming a force,” Valvano said after his unranked club posted an 80-73 victory to win the Chaminade tournament.

Late in the game, Valvano had toppled over from dizziness, apparently from jumping up too fast.

“I got up to yell and the next thing I knew I was on my keister,” he said. “When I went down for the mandatory eight-count, we were up by seven, and when I woke up we were up by 10. Maybe I’ll save that again for later.”

Chris Washburn, a 6-11 sophomore center, scored 17 points and had 13 rebounds for the Wolfpack, which used superior height in outrebounding Las Vegas, 35-24. Ernie Myers and Bennie Bolton each had 13 points, while Nate McMillan scored 12 and had 10 assists.

It was the fourth straight victory for the unranked Wolfpack (7-3). Las Vegas is 9-2, its only other setback being to No. 1-ranked North Carolina.

Armon Gilliam paced UNLV with 24 points and 9 rebounds, but All-America candidate Anthony Jones was limited to 4 points, his lowest output of the season.