RALEIGH, N.C., Feb. 6 (UPI) -- North Carolina State, continuing its effort to solidify a likely NCAA bid, again trumped No. 8 Virginia Wednesday night in Raleigh, N.C., 85-68.
Senior guard Anthony Grundy scored a team-high 25 points as the Wolfpack maintained its hold on fourth place in the Atlantic Coast Conference, while the lump-ridden Cavaliers lost their four straight game.
North Carolina State (17-6, 6-4 ACC) has not made the NCAA Tournament since 1991, the longest drought of any ACC school, and has yet to finish above .500 in conference play under fifth-year coach Herb Sendek.
The Wolfpack appears to be poised to end those streaks this year, extending its conference lead to 1 1/2 games over the Cavaliers after completing a season sweep.
Grundy's layup capped a big first half as N.C. State took a 40-28 lead at the break.
Marcus Melvin and Archie Miller each
had three-pointers in an 8-0 run that stretched the Pack's advantage to 52-32 with 16:32 left to play.
Scooter Sherrill finished with 20 points for the Wolfpack, which played without the services of freshman forward Julius Hodge. He is second on the team in scoring at 10.7 points per game, but was serving a one-game suspension for elbowing Maryland's Steve Blake in Sunday's loss at College Park.
Travis Watson led the Cavaliers with 29 points. Virginia (14-6, 4-5) is on its longest losing streak since dropping its final four games of the 1998-99 campaign.
