Terquavion Smith, NC State Wallop Virginia Tech

© Bob Donnan - USA Today Sports

Terquavion Smith scored 30 points as sixth-seeded North Carolina defeated 11th-seeded Virginia Tech 97-77 in the second round of the ACC Tournament in Greensboro, North Carolina on Wednesday night.

It was NC State's highest score against an ACC opponent this season, and the Wolfpack will play in the quarterfinals for the first time since 2019. They would have succeeded in 2020, but the Games were canceled due to the pandemic.

NC State (23-9) takes on third-seeded Clemson (22-9) on Thursday night.

NC State's win also meant that all four North Carolina teams, including North Carolina, Duke and Wake Forest, reached the quarterfinals for the first time since 2006.

Virginia Tech (19-14), last year's conference champion, will likely lose in the NIT.

Smith shot 11 of 13 from the floor and added eight rebounds and three assists. Yarkell Joyner had 20 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds, Ebenezer Dovona had 11 points, five boards and two blocks, and Jack Clark had 11 points.

Justin Moats led the Hawkeyes with 15 points and five rebounds. Rodney Rice scored 17 points and Grant Basile scored 11 points.

NC State jumped out to an 8-2 lead to start the game, then took a double-digit lead with six minutes left on a 15-6 run with just over eight minutes left in the first period. Smith scored seven points on the drive.

Basile's layup cut Virginia Tech's deficit to 15 with 3:35 left before halftime, but the Wolfpack went up by 12 to close the half and take a 53-26 lead. Downey scored five of those points.

Virginia Tech never got closer than 19 in the second half.

The Wolfpack shot a season-high 61.9 percent from the floor.

NC State starting quarterback Greg Gantt left the game in the first half with an apparent leg injury. He returned to the bench on crutches in the second half.

NC State lost to Clemson twice during the regular season, 78-64 at Clemson and 96-71 at Raleigh, North Carolina on February 25th. Both teams can use the win to boost their resumes as they prepare for the NCAA tournament.

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