ACC Basketball Recap: February 4, 2012
A few teams got ready for their big rivalry games this week by winning tough games on the road. Here is the recap for the ACC basketball action on February 4, 2012.
#5 North Carolina traveled to Maryland in a Saturday tune-up for its midweek rivalry game against Duke and came away with a hard-fought victory. Maryland led at the half and stayed within striking distance throughout the second-half. However, North Carolina was just too much in the end, winning 83-74. With the loss, Maryland falls to 13-9. Terrell Stoglin led the Terps with 20 points, while Alex Len had 9 rebounds. North Carolina got big games out of its big three, with Tyler Zeller scoring 22 points and grabbing 7 rebounds, while Harrison Barnes added 18 points and 8 rebounds and John Henson added 17 points and 12 rebounds. North Carolina improved to 20-3 on the season.
#2 Syracuse had an easier time in the tuneup before its midweek rivalry game against Georgetown, handling St. Johns 95-70. The big news for the Orange was the return of Sophomore center Fab Melo, who led the Orange with 14 points. Syracuse actually had five players with either 13 or 14 points, including Melo, CJ Fair (14), Dion Waiters (14), Kris Joseph (13), and Michael Carter-Williams (13). Carter-Williams, a freshman, got Syracuse rolling with two first-half three pointers on consecutive possessions. With the win Syracuse improves to 23-1, while Jim Boeheim tied Dean Smith for 3rd in career coaching wins with 879.
#21 Florida State kept the momentum going, defeating #16 Virginia 58-55. The win was the Seminoles’ 7th straight–a first for the team since joining the ACC. With the exception of a portion of the second half, the game was close throughout. And Virginia had opportunities to tie in the final minute. With the loss, Virginia drops to a still-impressive 18-4. But with the win, Florida State maintains its tie for first place in the ACC with a 7-1 record. The Seminoles are 16-6 overall. The Cavs were led by Mike Scott’s 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Joe Harris also scored 16 points. In victory, Florida State was led by reserve Okaro White’s 13 points. Xavier Gibson was the only other Seminole in double-digits with 10 points.
North Carolina State improved to 17-7 with an 87-76 win over Wake Forest. With the loss, Wake Forest dropped to 2-7 in conference play. CJ Harris led Wake Forest with 21 points. All five NC State starters finished in double-figures in points: Scott Wood (23), CJ Leslie (18), CJ Williams (18), Lorenzo Brown (15), and Ty Walker (12). Howell added 11 rebounds, while Brown added 8 assists. And, yes, that’s three players named CJ in one game.
In other action:
- Virginia Tech got back on the winning track with a 67-65 home win over Clemson. Andre Young and K.J. McDaniels led the Tigers, who dropped to 11-11 on the season, with 14 points each. The Hokies were led by Jarell Eddie’s 15 points. Virginia Tech is now 13-10 overall, including 2-6 in ACC play.
- Georgia Tech defeated Boston College 51-47 to force a three-way tie for last place in the ACC at 2-7 (both schools and Wake Forest). The Eagles were led by Matt Humphrey’s 15 points. Glen Rice, Jr., led Georgia Tech with 11 points.
The Confidential 