Despite a career-high 36-point performance from sophomore forward T.J. Warren, N.C. State dropped a heartbreaking overtime matchup against archrival UNC-Chapel Hill, 85-84, Wednesday night at PNC Arena. The loss marks the first time the Wolfpack has ever lost a game in which Warren scored 30-plus points.
“I loved our effort,” head coach Mark Gottfried said. “I’m hurting for our guys right now because they laid it on the line. They gave everything they could give.”
In the 256th meeting between the two teams, the Tar Heels (21-7 overall, 11-4 ACC) earned their 150th win over State (17-11 overall, 7-8 ACC). Wednesday’s matchup also marked the third straight win for Carolina over the Pack.
The two teams traded baskets early in the first half, with neither team leading by more than four for the first 11 minutes of the game.
Following an early trip to the bench for senior center Jordan Vandenberg due to foul trouble, freshman forward Beejay Anya admirably filled the void left by Vandenberg. Anya made an instant impact off of the bench, netting eight points and on three-for-three shooting in 13 minutes of court time in the first half.
“I just played hard,” Anya said. “Being physical is what we had to do.”
The Pack earned its largest lead of the first half after two big plays from the Gaithersburg, Md. native. Following an and-one, Anya capped an 11-2 State run with a huge dunk off a pocket pass from sophomore guard Tyler Lewis. With 6:34 remaining in the first half, the Pack led, 26-15.
In his sixth consecutive start, Lewis improved on his ACC-best 3.95 assist-to-turnover ratio by dishing out six dimes in the contest and giving up only one turnover, his first since Feb. 11.
Carolina attempted to make comeback in the closing minutes of the opening period, but entered the locker room down by eight.
Just over a minute into the second half, Warren picked up his third foul and headed to the bench. In the absence of its leading scorer, the Pack struggled offensively, failing to score until Warren re-entered the game four minutes later.
Freshman guard Anthony “Cat” Barber gave State its first basket of the second half with 12:48 remaining in the game. Barber’s bucket ended a 10-2 run by the Heels.
With 8:01 left in the game, Warren was forced to the bench again after receiving his fourth personal foul. The Heels took advantage, gaining their first lead since 15:57 in the first half.
The two teams proceeded to go shot-for-shot, totaling four lead changes in an 80-second span late in the second half. Vandenberg proved to be beneficial for the Pack down the stretch, recording three blocks and a put-back dunk to help the Pack remain close.
Carolina took a 71-69 lead after a pair of free throws from sophomore forward J.P. Tokoto. But with two seconds left, Warren was fouled on an inbounds play and went to the line for two shots, sinking both to send the game to overtime.
“He was a cool as a cat out there,” Gottfried said.
Warren took over for State down the stretch, scoring 17 of the Pack’s final 25 points. Warren went shot-for-shot with Tar Heel sophomore guard Marcus Paige, who recorded a career-high of 35 points.
“To see both players go at it like they did,” Gottfried said, “That was spectacular basketball.”
With 30 seconds remaining, two UNC free throws tied the game, 83-83. Warren was fouled with seven seconds left and split a pair of free throws. With the Wolfpack leading, 84-83, Paige drove the length of the floor and sank the go-ahead layup around the outstretched arm of Warren, giving Carolina the lead with 0.9 seconds remaining. A desparate last-second full-court heave by the Wolfpack fell short, giving the Heels their 10th straight win.
“[UNC] stepped and made a couple big plays,” Gottfried said, “Really just one more play than we did.”
