RALEIGH, N.C., 18 January 2005 — Ilian Evtimov poured in 17 points and dished out four assists to lead the North Carolina State Wolfpack to a 76-68 upset over the eighth-ranked Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at the RBC Center on Sunday.
Julius Hodge was held to just one field goal, but went 12-for-14 at the line and finished with 14 points and ripped down a game-high 10 rebounds for the Wolfpack (11-5, 1-2 ACC), who snapped a four-game losing streak and won their first game since December 28.
“We looked pretty desperate to me,” 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.”
Trailing 64-49 with 4:42 remaining in the game, Georgia Tech went on a 12-0 run, capped by back-to-back baskets by Muhammad, to get within three. Evtimov then drained a long three-pointer and scored eight points in the final 2:15 to close out the Yellow Jackets.
“On the road, it’s tough to put yourself in that situation, get way down and have to dig from behind,” Georgia Tech head coach Paul Hewitt said. “In the second half, our defense was able to put us back into the game.”
Elsewhere in North Carolina, J.J. Redick had 28 points and Daniel Ewing added 17, as the fifth-ranked Duke Blue Devils topped the Virginia Cavaliers, 80-66.
Shelden Williams added 16 points, 11 rebounds and nine blocked shots for the Blue Devils (13-0, 3-0 ACC), who have won 53 straight home games against unranked foes.
Things looked good for Virginia early, as a Gary Forbes hoop gave the Cavs a 17-10 lead with 10:56 left in the first half. But Duke ripped off a 22-6 burst to go up 32-23 three minutes before intermission.
Ewing had 10 of his points during the spurt.
In Madison, Wisconsin, Clayton Hanson scored 15 points and Sharif Chambliss added 14, leading Wisconsin to its 38th straight win at home and a 62-59 upset of 15th-ranked Michigan State.
Mike Wilkinson scored 12 points for the Badgers (12-3, 3-1 Big Ten), who have won two straight and seven of their last eight. Wisconsin also has won its last six games against Michigan State.
In Morgantown, West Virginia, Jared Dudley scored a game-high 21 points and Craig Smith added 20, leading 13th-ranked Boston College to a 73-53 rout of West Virginia at WVU Coliseum.
Jermaine Watson contributed 13 points as the Eagles (14-0, 3-0 Big East) soared to their 14th consecutive win.
