Jan. 18, 1998

Virginia Downs N.C. State

Game Statistics

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) - Norman Nolan scored a career-high 35 points and Curtis Staples hit an historic 3-pointer with 1:22 remaining Sunday as Virginia beat North Carolina State for the seventh straight time, 59-56.

Staples's third 3-pointer from the top of the key gave Virginia (10-8, 2-3 ACC) a 55-54 lead, and moved the senior guard past Dennis Scott of Georgia Tech as the career leader in the Atlantic Coast Conference with 352.

After a charging call against the Wolfpack's Justin Gainey with 55.6 to go, Nolan scored inside with 33 seconds left, giving the Cavaliers a 57-54 edge - just enough to keep North Carolina State (10-6, 1-4) down.

The Wolfpack got to within 57-56 when Tim Wells hit two free throws with 7.4 seconds left, but Staples converted two for the Cavaliers with 6.3 seconds to go and the Wolfpack never got off a potential game-tying shot.

Staples added 16 points for Virginia, giving the Cavaliers' two senior starters 51 of Virginia's 59 points, or 86 percent.

C.C. Harrison led the Wolfpack with 19 points, but made only 5 of 14 shots, and Wells and Ishua Benjamin added 12 each. North Carolina State made just 17 field goals in 49 tries, while Virginia hit on 21 of 40.

Nolan made 13 of 19 shots, scoring 15 of Virginia's 24 points in the first half and 20 of their 35 after the break. He also had nine rebounds.

The game was tied at 24 at halftime, but both teams took different routes to their totals. The Wolfpack shot just 27.6 percent, but had nine points off turnovers and converted three offensive rebounds for baskets.

Virginia shot 58.5 percent, but took 12 fewer shots and did not get an offensive rebound. The Cavaliers had eight turnovers to the Wolfpack's four.