It is rare that a sporting event between two exceptional teams lives up to expectations. The 8,114 fans who watched the N.C. State Wolfpack battle the North Carolina Tar Heels on Sunday in a spirited women’s basketball game on Kay Yow Court in Reynolds Coliseum in the ninth annual Hoops-4-Hope game were witness to something that exceeded expectations in more ways than one.  

N.C. State has justifiably taken some flak for its attempts to market itself with slogans and pregame poems that are eerily similar to those found at other schools. A midfield logo that attempts to mock a rival is also not exempt from criticism.

In spite of any failures or mistakes N.C. State may have made during the course of a calendar year in terms of marketing or presentation, it will always be effectively neutralized whenever the women’s basketball team hosts the Hoops-4-Hope game. There is unquestionably no event held by the athletic department that has the unique combination of having a greater purpose than sports, a link to State’s heritage and an ambiance that brings supporters and emphasizes the importance of contributing.

The most endearing aspect of the Hoops-4-Hope game is also the most redundant. The stirring sight of seeing cancer survivors on the court at halftime warms the heart. Many of the participants during intermission proudly brought out their loved ones, including children, to share in the special moment. Simply put, the warm glow of life created a palpable joy that supersedes any joy a mere victory can provide.

The game on Sunday was outstanding. The Wolfpack entered the contest ranked No. 10 in the nation, buoyed by four come-from-behind victories after the Pack had trailed by at least 10 points. State has shown a dogged determination when facing adversity that mirrors its coach, Wes Moore, who served as an assistant under Yow for three years in the mid-’90s.

N.C. State has played with a resiliency that Yow would be proud of. The Pack has nine conference wins and has rallied from double-digit deficits in four of them. State is projected as high as a No. 4 seed in next month’s NCAA Tournament.

Trailing 25-14 nearly 10 minutes into the game, N.C. State surged back to take the lead at halftime. When the Tar Heels used a second half run to lead by nine points with a little more than four minutes remaining, the Pack did what it has been prone to do all season and fought back within striking distance.

However, Carolina had an answer that the other four teams State surged past did not in freshman guard Diamond DeShields, who shined brightly in the second half with 27 of her game-high 38 points coming in the final 15:38 of action. Every time the Wolfpack seemed poised to make a rally, DeShields was there with a critical basket to keep N.C. State at bay.

As disheartening as DeShields sensational performance was for N.C. State and its fans, it was oddly fitting in the context of the game and the grandeur of the event. It was a special occasion and there is a synergy to her display. Hoops-4-Hope is a celebration of overcoming and not giving in when the odds seem long. DeShields battled with a remarkable will that was also a sight to behold.

North Carolina associate head coach Andrew Calder remarked afterward how playing in the Hoops-4-Hope Game was an honor for his team. Calder is running the squad while head coach Sylvia Hatchell is fighting, and winning, in her battle against leukemia. Calder’s words were undoubtedly sincere. Hatchell was offered the job in Chapel Hill after Yow recommended her to North Carolina administrators. Last season after playing the Pack at Carmichael Arena, Hatchell broke into tears describing Yow and the influence she had on her career—including a story of how Yow once shared her team’s athletic apparel with Hatchell’s team when she coached in Division II.

State didn’t win its rivalry game in terms of points, but some would consider it a victory. It hosted a fantastic opponent in an event that was bigger than anything the two schools could ever pull off individually. There was a source of pride entering the game at how well N.C. State was doing after years in the women’s basketball abyss. Even in defeat, the school carried itself like a champion.