When I got to the RBC Center Wednesday, I had that same old feeling in my stomach about the game against Wake Forest.

All you State fans should know the feeling by now. The nervous, anxious, stomach twisting feeling that seems to surround basketball this season.

I always wonder which Wolfpack team is going to show up. It’s been a crapshoot, at best.

But Wednesday night was different. The State team that can beat anybody in the conference came to play, finally.

The Pack got solid play from Courtney Fells, Farnold Degand and Tracy Smith in the first 20 minutes on its way to building an eight point lead at the break.

Things looked good. State hit some three pointers, took care of the ball, played good defense and most of all, looked like they were playing the most important game of the season.

But we all know the way things have gone this year. State has blown multiple leads and has been simply unable to put together an entire game of good effort and solid play.

Sure enough, the Wolfpack squad that cannot handle a lead returned to action during multiple stints in the second half.

Wake Forest, who never once seemed out of the contest, cut State’s lead, which grew to 20 at one point, to seven with four minutes to go.

Then, with 40 seconds left, the lead had dwindled to three. When Wake took the ball up the court within one possession, I thought I might literally throw up.

And when the Demon Deacons missed their next shot, the Pack got a crucial rebound, at the most crucial time. Imagine that.

When Brandon Costner stepped to the free throw line with eight seconds to go and the Pack up by five, students started lining up behind the areas around the court, ready to rush and celebrate a victory that couldn’t have come at a better time.

While Wednesday’s win wasn’t pretty at times, it was a win, and it proved that this team can play with anyone. All it needs to do is come to play for 40 minutes night and night out.

So where does this team go from here?

State hits the court again Saturday to take on Georgia Tech in Atlanta in a game that has now become even more important because of Wednesday’s win.

With a victory against the Yellow Jackets, the Pack can begin to climb its way out of the bottom half of the ACC and maybe even make a run for the NCAA tournament.

After watching Wednesday night’s contest against Wake Forest, I now know that N.C. State has what it takes. They can win. 

And that begs the most important question of all: will the Wolfpack do it?