NC State Stuns No. 1 Seed Villanova, 71-68, Wolfpack to the Sweet 16

NC State pulled the biggest upset of the NCAA Tournament so far, shocking No. 1 seed Villanova in Pittsburgh, 71-68 in a thriller. The Wolfpack, 10-point underdogs, led by four at halftime, and never trailed in the second half, but survived a flurry of three-points from the best team in the Big East in the final two minutes.

Darrun Hilliard made a 3-pointer with :01.7 left to pull the Wildcats within 69-68, but after two NC State free throws, Villanova’s length-of-the-court pass landed in the arms of an NC State, and bedlam erupted.

NC State, which needed a miracle rally and last-second shot to beat LSU Thursday night, led Villanova by eight with 3:25 left, and then seven with 1:30 left, but Villanova kept coming. Trevor Lacey (17 points) hit a clutch step-back jumper, and then Cat Barber (13 points) slithered through the lane for a layup and the Wolfpack held on for dear life.

Abdul-Malik Abu had only his second double-double of the season for the Wolfpack (13 points, 12 rebounds) and Lennard Freeman (11 points, 12 rebounds) was dominant inside as well. Villanova shot 31 percent from the field, and missed 19 of 28 three-point attempts.

NC State will play the winner of Sunday’s clash between Northern Iowa and Louisville.