Lewis, De Ridder help No. 21 Virginia regroup from 3OT loss to beat NC State 76-61 – Winnipeg Free Press

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Sam Lewis matched his career-high with 23 points, Thijs DeRidder took over after halftime and No. 21 Virginia beat North Carolina State 76-61 on Saturday.

Lewis scored 20 points on 7-of-8 shooting at halftime for the Cavaliers (12-2, 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference), who haven't trailed in three days since their triple-overtime loss to Virginia Tech. Lewis helped Virginia up 20 at the break, then De Ridder took charge after the Wolfpack tried to rally.

The 6-9 De Ridder, Belgium's top player, scored 12 of his 14 points after the break.

That included one stunning stretch that began when he swooped in to catch a 3-pointer from Malik Thomas and scored ahead of the shot clock. He followed it up with a 3-pointer, then made a defensive stop and pushed the ball in transition to help Lewis set up a corner 3 for a 66-44 lead with 8:53 left.

It was part of an action-packed game in which first-year Virginia coach Ryan Odom received a technical foul in the second half for reacting violently to a late whistle. Odom waved his hand in disgust and yelled at the officials before assistant Bryce Crawford wrapped him in a bear hug and led him back to the bench.

Quadir Copeland scored 15 points for the Wolfpack (10-5, 1-1), which came away from the game and fell into a big hole. After halftime, NC State upped the game's intensity and gained momentum again, closing to within 46-38 on a Paul McNeil Jr. 3-pointer at the 14:39 mark.

But NC State managed just one basket over the next six minutes as DeRidder and the Cavs made their move, finishing the game at 36%.

Virginia shot 50% and made 13 three-pointers.

Further

Virginia: The Cavaliers host California on Wednesday.

NC State: The Wolfpack's first ACC road game is Tuesday at Boston College.

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