Jalen Washington capped off a career day with a block of the potential tying basket in the final seconds to help UNC beat NC State 63-61 in Raleigh on Saturday.

The block was just one part of a game-winning sequence for Washington: the junior from Indiana also dunked home the game-winning basket on Carolina’s previous offensive possession with 24 seconds remaining. It was all part of Washington’s first career double-double: 11 points and a career-high 12 rebounds. The final block was his third of the afternoon.

“He was tremendous today,” said R.J. Davis, who scored 11 points. “We wouldn’t have won this game without him.”

“He’s waited his turn,” head coach Hubert Davis said of Washington. “He has such a burning desire to please his teammates, please his coaches. He really wants to do well. And to see him being celebrated in the locker room among his teammates is something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”

Washington’s heroics ensured NC State’s comeback would fall two points short. The Tar Heels led for much of the afternoon and tied their largest advantage of the game with 56-47 with 5:53 remaining in the game. But the Wolfpack clawed back thanks to buckets from Michael O’Connell and Marcus Hill, using a 12-2 run to take a 59-58 lead with 2:28 to go. Ian Jackson then capped off a 21-point day with a go-ahead three-pointer for the Tar Heels, and Hill scored a layup on the Wolfpack’s ensuing possession to tie the score at 61-61.

NC State had the ball with a chance to go ahead after a miss from R.J. Davis, but turned the ball over with 41 seconds remaining to set the stage for Washington’s basket. Carolina’s final offensive possession saw the Tar Heels have to improvise, but Elliot Cadeau found Washington with an over-the-shoulder pass for the dunk – Cadeau’s 11th assist of the day.

“He has a gift where he can pass differently than normal people,” Hubert Davis said of Cadeau.

Jackson led all scorers with 21 points and shot 5-8 on three-pointers. It’s the fifth time in the last six games and sixth time this season the freshman guard from the Bronx has reached the 20-point plateau, despite the fact that his first points on Saturday didn’t come until 2:50 remained in the first half.

“I can’t remember… someone that can score as easily and as efficiently as him,” Davis said of Jackson’s performance. “If somebody did not give me the stat sheet, there’s no way that I would have said he scored 21 points. I thought he had maybe 11 or 13.”

The win is UNC’s 10th in its last 12 visits to Raleigh. It improves Carolina to 11-6 overall and 4-1 in ACC play. The Tar Heels will be back in action when they host ACC newcomers Cal at the Smith Center on Wednesday night at 7 p.m.

 

Featured image via Todd Melet. For a photo gallery of the game, click here.

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