No. 5 seed North Carolina State did not let down the roaring, red-clad crowd that packed the Greensboro Coliseum Thursday afternoon, dominating the court and defeating No. 12 seed Virginia Tech 80-63.

60th Annual ACC Tournament

NC State senior Richard Howell, a first-team All-ACC Selection, reached the 20-point plateau for the third time this season and fifth in his career.  He added 12 rebounds to his 22 points for his 17th double-double of the year and 30th of his career.

Junior Lorenzo Brown posted double-digit assists for the ninth time this season and 11th in his career. The 12 assists ranks tied for sixth in tournament history.

Virginia Tech junior Jarrell Eddie once again gave one of his best performances in the Greensboro Coliseum, after setting his career high of 28 points earlier this season here against UNC Greensboro. The forward scored 21 points, making 9 of 14 shots. He averaged 12.0 points for the season, and 24.5 in two games in the Greensboro Coliseum.

The Coliseum did not however, bring out the best in ACC player of the year Erick Green, who scored only 15 points – just the fourth time in 32 games that he’s failed to score more than 20.  Green did, however, extend his ACC-best streak of double-figure scoring games to 35 straight and push his season scoring total to 801 points, the best single-season total in Virginia Tech history.

Although his college career ended on a sour note, Green had no regrets.  “I know it was a losing season but I learned a lot,” he said,  “I learned how much hard work pays off.  I had a great group of guys to be around and a great coach. I would not want any other way but to end my career but with this guy right here [Head Coach Jamie Johnson] who has ben with me since junior year of high school.  It does not get any better than that.”

As the Hokies head back to Blacksburg, the Wolfpack will prepare to take on No. 4 seed Virginia Friday, March 15 at 2:00 p.m.