Every night of the college basketball season, the Blue Zone will bring you updates on all of the important ACC matchups.
After a long break for final exams, 10 ACC teams got back in action Saturday—and it wasn't all pretty. N.C. State was shockingly upset, and Notre Dame and Florida State also lost in a day full of surprises.
UNC Greensboro 81, NC State 76
In 61 previous games against ACC competition, UNC Greensboro had won twice. The Spartans made it three wins Saturday with a stunning upset in Raleigh behind a 20-3 second-half run. With 17 points, Francis Alonso led the way for the Spartans, who shot a scorching 12-of-24 from beyond the arc. UNC Greensboro also won the rebounding battle 34-28.
No. 8 Kentucky 93, Virginia Tech 86
Despite holding a 47-41 halftime lead, the Hokies couldn't keep it up in a tight loss to one of the nation's best teams. After shooting 7-of-12 from long distance in the first half, Virginia Tech went cold in the second half and couldn't make up for its 19 turnovers despite shooting an astounding 58.2 percent from the field.
Indiana 80, No. 18 Notre Dame 77 (OT)
Despite 29 points and 11 rebounds from Bonzie Colson, the pesky Hoosiers found a way to down the Fighting Irish in the Crossroads Classic. Juwan Morgan scored 34 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to help Indiana beat its first ranked team of the season. After being shocked by Ball State Dec. 5, Notre Dame has now been upset by an unranked team in two of its last three games despite Colson's best efforts.
Oklahoma State 71, No. 19 Florida State 70
Florida State picked up its first loss of the season Saturday, turning the ball over 22 times in the Orange Bowl Classic. Mitchell Solomon tapped the ball into the basket in the waning seconds to give the Cowboys the win, their first this season against ranked competition.
Clemson 71, No. 22 Florida 69
After looking like the best team in the country for much of its contest against No. 1 Duke, the reeling Gators picked up their fourth loss in five games Saturday—all but the loss to the Blue Devils came against unranked competition. Despite holding a near-double digit halftime lead, Florida couldn't hold on against the Tigers.
The other scores:
Syracuse 86, Georgetown 79 (OT)
Pittsburgh 72, McNeese State 51
No. 6 Miami 59, George Washington 50
No. 16 Virginia 80, Davidson 60
Louisville 81, Memphis 72
Check back Sunday to see if No. 7 North Carolina can withstand a road trip to No. 20 Tennessee.
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Managing Editor 2018-19, 2019-2020 Features & Investigations Editor
A member of the class of 2020 hailing from San Mateo, Calif., Ben is The Chronicle's Towerview Editor and Investigations Editor. Outside of the Chronicle, he is a public policy major working towards a journalism certificate, has interned at the Tampa Bay Times and NBC News and frequents Pitchforks.