NC State made 15 of its last 17 free-throw attempts. The Wolfpack led 17-4 after nine minutes, but Virginia used a 13-4 run to close within 25-21 two minutes before halftime. But N.C. State steadied itself, getting four points each from Manny Bates and Moore and a 3-pointer from Braxton Beverly as it scored 12 of the next 14 points. N.C. State hit 9 of its first 13 shots in opening a 21-10 lead, but made just 3 of 12 the rest of the half. POLL IMPLICATIONSThe Wolfpack is surging and Virginia is headed in the opposite direction and struggling, but this loss won’t look as bad on paper because of the way N.C. State has played of late.