Hot shooting by Maverick Rowan sparked NC State to a 75-72 win over Wake Forest in the opening game of the 2016 ACC Tournament on Tuesday in Washington, D.C.
Rowan hit threes on three consecutive possessions to fuel a 15-4 Wolfpack run that put State (16-16, 6-13) ahead 70-63 with 2:11 to go.
The Demon Deacons (11-20, 2-17) were able to hang around, and actually had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds after Caleb Martin missed the first of two free throws with 17.1 seconds left.
Bryant Crawford and Codi Miller-McIntyre each missed potential game-tying threes in the final eight seconds.
Rowan had a game-high 24 points, 18 in the second half, for NC State, which also got 22 points and six assists from Cat Barber.
Bryant Crawford led Wake with 19 points. Devin Thomas had 12 points and 13 rebounds for the Deacs, who shot 37.3 percent (25-of-67) from the field and 33.3 percent (8-of-24) from three-point range.
State shot 41.7 percent (25-of-60) from the field and 43.5 percent (10-of-23) from three.
NC State will face Duke (22-9, 11-7 ACC) on Wednesday at 2 p.m. in the second round of the ACC Tournament.
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