NC State basketball wins overtime thriller over No. 16 Miami, 83-81
On the list of perspective heroes for NC State basketball in what turned out to be a thrilling 83-81 overtime win over No. 16 Miami at PNC Arena in Raleigh, sophomore forward Ernest Ross was probably not high on the list. After all, Ross entered the game 2.2 points and 1.7 rebounds per contest and had scored a total of 8 points in 6 prior ACC games.
Yet with the Wolfpack trailing 81-80, Ross beat two Miami defenders for a rebound on a missed step-back jumper by Jarkel Joiner and scored a short layup to put NC State up one with 33.0 seconds remaining.
“It came so quick,” Ross said. “I was in the moment. I was like, ‘I got to get this rebound to get this win.’”
Then after Miami sophomore guard Bensley Joseph missed a three-pointer, Ross was there for the defensive rebound with 12.3 seconds remaining while being fouled. Through self-acknowledged nerves, Ross made one of two to give NC State a 2-point cushion.
With Miami star junior guard Isaiah Wong trying to drive to his left, Ross combined with Joiner to knock the ball away from Wong, forcing a scramble in which Ross was able to help tie-up with just 0.2 seconds left. The possession arrow pointed towards NC State’s bench.
For good measure, Ross caught the final inbounds pass just beyond midcourt, and he then triumphantly held both arms in the air, ball cradled in his right wrist.
“Ernest was great,” NC State basketball coach Kevin Keatts noted. “He was around the rim all the time. He was flying around.”
The production from Ross was not limited to just the final minute of overtime. He finished with career-highs 17 points and 9 rebounds. He previous scoring best had been 8 points.
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Odds are that Ross may repeat his pregame meal of bacon and scrambled eggs again.
“This was my opportunity,” Ross acknowledged. “I used my opportunity well.”
The win could prove to be a crucial one for NC State basketball as the Pack tries to get back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018. The Wolfpack improved to 14-4 overall and 4-3 in the ACC, while Miami fell to 14-3 and 5-2 respectively.
Much like the first time the two teams met, NC State seemed in control at halftime, leading 42-32. When they played on Dec. 10 in Coral Gables, Fla., NC State was up 43-34 at the break. That day, however, Miami came all the way back and pulled away late for an 80-73 triumph.
This time, Miami started the second half on a 7-0 run to quickly close the gap. That set the stage for a back-and-forth finish. In a game that featured 18 lead changes and each team leading for an almost identical amount of time (Miami or 20:33 and NC State for 20:10), NC State seemed well-positioned to win in regulation.
The Pack had a 3-point lead and a near steal on a Wong pass with 39.1 seconds left. With the shot clock winding down, Miami senior forward Jordan Miller made a tough, step-back 3 to tie the contest with 28.6 seconds remaining.
NC State called a timeout to work for a last shot, but the best they could produce was a fading Joiner three-pointer as time expired.
Next for the Pack is a road date at Georgia Tech on Tuesday. That game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. tipoff on ACC Network.
