No. 3 NC State top Miami for 3rd straight ACC title

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina State’s players knew the high expectations that awaited even before they had played a minute this season, how nothing short of championships would be acceptable for a veteran team back for a final run together.

So they ended their stay at the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament the same way as the past two seasons: frolicking among balloons and confetti that had fallen from the rafters before cutting down climbing steps to snip down the nets.

The top-seeded Wolfpack won a third straight championship Sunday by ending Miami’s upset-filled run in a 60-47 victory, with the preseason favorite completing a dominating run against league opponents this season.

It came from a deep team that returned its top eight scorers from last year, as well as adding talented newcomers, which meant fewer minutes to go around even for top players like Elissa Cunane, Kayla Jones and Jakia Brown-Turner. Stats went down, but wins went up to tie a program single-season record.

“They’ve all sacrificed a little bit,” coach Wes Moore told the crowd afterward. “But hey, it’s worth it.”

N.C. State (29-3) finished 20-1 against ACC foes this year.

“I think that in a lot of ways it’s more challenging trying to make sure we didn’t read the press clippings and maybe let up and relax,” Moore told reporters, adding that there was a midseason stretch when his veteran players seemed “kind of over me.”

“We get tired of each other sometimes,” said Cunane, the tournament’s most valuable player for the second straight year. “I’ll be honest, I get sick of seeing some people’s faces. But I love everyone on the team with all my heart.”

Cunane had 17 points and eight rebounds despite exiting the game for a second-half stretch