CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Interstat) — In a grinding, defensive-minded Atlantic Coast Conference tournament quarterfinal that ultimately turned on a dominant second-half surge, the Virginia Cavaliers outlasted the North Carolina State Wolfpack 81-74 on Thursday afternoon at Spectrum Center.

The victory, Virginia’s third this season over the Wolfpack, advanced the Cavaliers to the tournament semifinals and improved their record to 28-4. North Carolina State’s season concluded at 20-13.

For much of the afternoon, the game was a tense, physical affair characterized by stifling defense and offensive struggles. The first half set the tone, with both teams combining for more blocks (16) than assists (11). Virginia’s 7-foot center Ugonna Onyenso from Nigeria was a primary disruptor, swatting four shots before halftime and altering countless others. His presence inside forced the Wolfpack into a perimeter-oriented attack, which they executed with surprising efficiency, hitting 5 of 11 from 3-point range in the opening period.

North Carolina State, led early by the interior work of Ven-Allen Lubin, managed to carve out a narrow 32-33 deficit at the break despite shooting just 36% from the field. The Cavaliers, meanwhile, leaned on balanced scoring, getting key first-half 3-pointers from Thijs De Ridder of Belgium and Sam Lewis to maintain a slim edge.

The decisive shift came after halftime. Virginia emerged from the locker room with heightened offensive purpose, quickly stretching its lead. A 9-2 run early in the second half, capped by a Dallin Hall 3-pointer, pushed the Cavalier advantage to 55-46 with 11:47 remaining and forced a North Carolina State timeout. The Wolfpack, which had stayed close through the first 25 minutes, suddenly found itself battling Virginia’s methodical offense and an ever-tightening defensive vise.

The Cavaliers systematically broke the game open by exploiting their advantages in the paint and in transition. They outscored North Carolina State 30-16 in the paint and, critically, registered 15 fastbreak points to the Wolfpack’s zero. This ability to generate easier baskets proved to be the difference on a afternoon when half-court execution was a challenge for both sides.

North Carolina State’s offense ran primarily through sophomore guard Paul McNeil, who finished with a game-high 26 points, including four 3-pointers. His scoring kept the Wolfpack within striking distance deep into the second half. After a McNeil 3-pointer cut the Virginia lead to 70-68 with just over five minutes to play, the Cavaliers responded with the poise of a veteran team.

Virginia executed down the stretch, getting a crucial layup from De Ridder and a pair of free throws from Malik Thomas to rebuild a six-point cushion. McNeil answered again with a deep 3-pointer to make it 74-72 with 2:38 left, but the Wolfpack would get no closer. Virginia closed the game on a 7-2 run, with Thomas and Hall combining to hit five of six free throws in the final 12 seconds to seal the victory.

Thomas led Virginia with 16 points, while De Ridder added 15 and Lewis chipped in 12. Onyenso finished with eight points, six rebounds and a towering eight blocks, anchoring a Virginia defense that finished with nine rejections. Lubin posted a double-double for North Carolina State with 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Matt Able contributed 12 points off the bench.

While the final margin was seven points, the game was ultimately defined by Virginia’s ability to control the tempo, protect the rim, and capitalize on fleeting transition opportunities. The Cavaliers’ offensive rating of 118.0 on 69 possessions underscored their superior efficiency in a contest where every possession was contested. North Carolina State, despite a valiant effort and strong outside shooting (11 of 22 from 3-point range), could not overcome Virginia’s interior defense and its own inability to generate easy scores in the open floor.

The most important part of the game was Virginia’s sustained second-half push that began near the 16-minute mark and culminated in Hall’s 3-pointer to take a nine-point lead. This stretch transformed a one-possession game into a multi-possession cushion that Virginia managed expertly over the final ten minutes. During this pivotal phase, the Cavaliers increased their defensive pressure, forced North Carolina State into tougher shots, and finally unlocked their transition game, creating the separation they would never relinquish.