ACC Tournament Semifinals: Miami advances over N.C. State, 81-71

GREENSBORO—Durand Scott scored 32 points to lead the No. 1 seed Miami Hurricanes to an 81-71 win over the fifth-seeded N.C. State Wolfpack in the semifinal round of the 2013 ACC Tournament. Scott, the ACC’s defensive Player of the Year, was 12-18 from the floor and 3-3 from the free throw line as the Hurricanes (26-6) wore down a Wolfpack squad playing their third game in three days.

N.C. State (24-10) was led by 21 points from Scott Wood, who made 6 three-pointers in a losing effort. C.J. Leslie scored 14 points for the Pack, while T.J. Warren added 13 before fouling out. Wolfpack fans were livid throughout the second half at the foul differential, as the Wolfpack was whistled for 16 second-half fouls to Miami’s nine. However, the fouls were generated by Miami’s attacking offense, which the Pack could never match step-for-step.

Scott and Shane Larkin (23 points) were so dominant on offense that, at one point in the first half, they accounted for 25 of the Hurricanes’ 30 points. Miami out-rebounded the Pack 37-27, despite N.C. State shooting 50 percent from the floor for the game. The Hurricanes scored 18 second-chance points to State’s eight, which is the same difference as the final margin of victory.

The Hurricanes now advance to play the winner of Saturday’s second semifinal featuring North Carolina and Maryland. The Wolfpack will await their destination from the NCAA seeding committee, which will reveal the tournament brackets on Sunday evening at the conclusion of all major conference tournaments.