Evtimov Sinks Georgia Tech
Ilian Evtimov led a balanced attack with 17 points, including a clutch three-point basket, and North Carolina State defeated eighth-ranked Georgia Tech, 76-68, Sunday night at Raleigh, N.C., to end a four-game losing streak.
Five players scored in double figures for the Wolfpack, which improved to 11-5 overall, 1-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference and hadn’t won since narrowly getting by Columbia last month.
“We looked pretty desperate to me,” leading scorer Julius Hodge said. “We just went out and gave it our all. We got the win, and I love to win, so I don’t even want to talk about the past now.”
Cameron Bennerman finished with 16 points, and Hodge had 12 of his 14 in the second half, but Evtimov scored the most important points.
The Yellow Jackets (11-4, 2-2) scored 12 consecutive points to cut the deficit to three, at 64-61, but the Wolfpack patiently ran its offense until Evtimov got an open look from beyond the three-point arc.
“I just did what I’m supposed to do,” Evtimov said. “The pass came on time, on target, and I just have to make it.”
Evtimov made the shot to increase the margin to six points with 2 minutes 14 seconds to play, and the Wolfpack hung on from there.
Jarrett Jack scored 16 points and Isma’il Muhammad had 12 for Georgia Tech, which still missed guard B.J. Elder. He sat out his fourth game in a row because of a sore left hamstring, leaving the team without its second-leading scorer.
No. 5 Duke 80, Virginia 66 -- J.J. Redick scored 20 of his 28 points in the second half to lift the Blue Devils in an ACC game at Durham, N.C.
Shelden Williams had 16 points, 11 rebounds and nine blocks for the Blue Devils (13-0, 3-0).
Duke struggled to put away the Cavaliers (9-5, 0-4) before beating them for the 20th time in 22 meetings.
Sean Singletary scored 21 points to lead the Cavaliers, who have not won in Cameron Indoor Stadium in 10 years.
No. 13 Boston College 73, West Virginia 53 -- Jared Dudley scored 21 points and Craig Smith had 20 for the Eagles, who won their eighth consecutive game on the road.
The Eagles (14-0, 3-0) extended the best start in school history and won their first three Big East Conference games for the first time under eighth-year Coach Al Skinner.
Mike Gansey scored 14 points for West Virginia (11-3, 1-2), which has lost three of four after starting 10-0.
Wisconsin 62, No. 15 Michigan State 59 -- Kam Taylor scored the go-ahead basket with 37 seconds left, and the Badgers ran off the last 11 points to extend the longest home winning streak in Division I to 38 games.
The Badgers (12-3, 3-1) trailed by eight points with less than two minutes to play in the Big Ten Conference game, and Taylor’s basket in the lane gave them a 60-59 lead.
Paul Davis scored 20 points to lead the Spartans (10-3, 2-1).
Coach Bo Ryan improved to 6-0 against Michigan State Coach Tom Izzo.
The Badgers haven’t lost in the Kohl Center since Dec. 4, 2002, when Wake Forest beat them, 90-80.