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Northwestern tops NC State 65-53

Dec 2, 2009 - 2:23 AM By JOEDY McCREARY AP Sports Writer

RALEIGH, N.C.(AP) -- Michael Thompson scored 22 points and Northwestern beat North Carolina State 65-53 on Tuesday night in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.

Jeremy Nash added 12 points for the Wildcats (6-1). Northwestern led by 14, only briefly trailed and won its fifth straight - the last three coming against teams that entered unbeaten.

Tracy Smith had a season-high 23 points - including 10 in a row down the stretch for the Wolfpack (5-1) - on 9-for-18 shooting.

N.C. State cut it to 57-52 on Julius Mays' layup at the 2-minute mark before Northwestern put the game in its point guard's hands. Thompson converted a three-point play about 30 seconds later, then added another free throw to make it a nine-point game and give the Wildcats plenty of breathing room.