DATE: Friday, March 7, 1997                 TAG: 9703070854

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C2   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: GREENSBORO                        LENGTH:   52 lines

WOLFPACK ROLLS IN PLAY-IN GAME ACC VICTORY SENDS N.C. STATE AGAINST DUKE TODAY AND LIKELY AN NIT BID.

With one 60-46 win over Georgia Tech Thursday night, N.C. State played itself into two tournaments.

Thursday's victory in the ACC tournament play-in game gets N.C. State into the tournament proper. The Wolfpack (14-13) will meet top-seeded Duke (23-8) in a quarterfinal game today at 2:30 at the Greensboro Coliseum.

The win also gets N.C. State into the NIT. At least, that's the belief of coach Herb Sendek and his players.

And while reaching the NIT may not sound like much, it's important to the `Pack. No N.C. State team has reached post-season play since 1991.

``Post-season play hasn't been around here for a long time,'' guard Jeremy Hyatt said. ``It's a relief knowing we'll have a chance to play.''

The NIT asks only that its teams finish .500. N.C. State was able to ensure that with some hot second-half shooting.

Georgia Tech (9-18) played a triangle-and-two defense in the second half, keeping three players in a zone and playing man-to-man on C.C. Harrison and Danny Strong, the Wolfpack's top scorers.

Left unattended, Hyatt took advantage. The 6-foot-6 senior scored eight of N.C. State's 10 points in a crucial three minute stretch, turning a 37-36 Georgia Tech lead into a 43-39 Wolfpack advantage with 3:53 left.

``The triangle was working, but I knew that Hyatt was due for one,'' Georgia Tech coach Bobby Cremins said. ``And Hyatt hit a big three. I wish I had played man-to-man at that point.''

Hyatt's second trey gave N.C. State the 43-39 lead. They never trailed again. Hyatt finished with 16 points. Harrison had 18 and Strong 15.

``Once the momentum turned, we fell apart,'' Cremins said.

Both teams struggled through an ugly first half, turning in identical 8-of-22 shooting. Without center Damon Thornton, who is out with a hip injury, the Wolpack started a lineup with Division II size - no player over 6-6.

``In many respects, we probably re-define small,'' Sendek said.

But N.C. State played better defense and took better care of the ball than Tech. As has been the case all year, the Yellow Jackets imploded due to turnovers and poor shooting.

``It's mind-boggling,'' Cremins said.

The 9-18 finish is Cremins' worst at Georgia Tech.

``I guess it's time for the season to end,'' he said. ``I'm ready for it to end.'' ILLUSTRATION: [Graphic]

The Virginian-Pilot

ACC MEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

SOURCE: Atlantic coast Conference

[For copy of graphic, see microfilm]

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