ATLANTA, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Julius Hodge collected 22 points and eight boards off the bench Wednesday night as No. 19 North Carolina State outbattled No. 20 Georgia Tech, 79-69.
A front-runner for ACC Player of the Year honors, Hodge was not in the starting lineup for only the second time in his career.
The junior swingman responded to his coach's message as North Carolina State (18-6, 10-3 ACC) moved within one game of first-place Duke in the conference standings.
The Wolfpack took the lead for good at 61-60 when freshman Engin Atsur threw in a hook with 5:17 left. North Carolina State's Ilian Evtimov made two free throws before Georgia Tech's Will Bynum countered with a jumper.
Hodge came up with a huge three-pointer that triggered nine straight points.
Georgia Tech (19-8, 6-7) dropped its second straight -- both at home - after Sunday's loss to Wake Forest.
