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Virginia faces NC State in ACC tournament quarterfinals

Mar 9, 2007 - 3:39 PM NC State (16-14) at No. 24 Virginia (20-9) 7:00 pm EST

TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) -- No. 24 Virginia looks to complete a trifecta against North Carolina State on Friday when the teams meet in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament.

The second-seeded Cavaliers posted a pair of wins over the Wolfpack during the regular season. Guards J.J. Reynolds and Sean Singletary combined for 81 wins for the Cavaliers.

Reynolds and Singletary both were in the top six in scoring in the conference this season. Singletary was a First Team All-ACC selection, while Reynolds was named to the second team.

The Cavaliers let an opportunity to clinch the top seed slip away when they lost to lowly Wake Forest, 78-72, in the regular-season finale. Reynolds managed just 11 points on 3-of-14 shooting.

NC State, the 10th seed, pulled off a shocker on Thursday with an 85-80 triumph over Duke, which had won seven of the last eight ACC tournament titles.

NC State forward Brandon Costner, named to All-ACC Freshman team, scored a career-high 30 points on 10-of-17 shooting. Senior point guard Engin Atsur added 21 points, including four 3-pointers.

Virginia has not won the ACC tournament since 1976.

The Wolfpack hold a commanding 11-2 advantage over the Cavaliers in tournament games.

The winner meets either Wake Forest or Virginia Tech.