Rhode Island Shocks NC State with Comeback Victory
Ines Dubroise’s free throw with just six seconds remaining sealed the win for Rhode Island, who seemed destined for triumph even when Zam Jones attempted a last-ditch 3-pointer that fell short.
On Sunday afternoon, Rhode Island walked into Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh and left with an impressive 68-63 comeback victory against No. 16 North Carolina State. This marks the Rams’ first win over an AP-ranked opponent from a Power 4 conference and only their second victory against an AP-ranked team overall.
Four players from the Rams scored in double digits, with Vanessa Harris leading with 15 points coming off the bench. Palmia Mbu contributed 14 points along with six rebounds and three assists. This victory is particularly significant for seventh-year head coach Tammy Reese, as it represents her first win at one of the Tobacco Road arenas after her tenure at Virginia.
The defeat was tough on NC State, capping off a challenging week for the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
Notably, this loss was the first time NC State had been defeated by a mid-major at Reynolds Coliseum since December 2015. Back then, during Wes Moore’s third season, they lost to Elon by just three points. This marks the third loss for the Wolfpack this season, despite being predicted to secure a second-place finish in the ACC according to preseason polls.
Moreover, North Carolina State had reportedly compensated Rhode Island with $25,000 to play, also covering the Rams’ hotel expenses, according to public records accessed by SB Nation. The Rams not only earned a crucial win but enjoyed a complimentary stay in Raleigh.
A month ago, many considered the Wolfpack and their Tobacco Road rivals, the Duke Blue Devils, as probable top teams in the ACC, expected to host NCAA Tournament opening weekend games. Both had been ranked in the top 10 in the AP Top 25 preseason poll.
NC State started the season strong, winning against Tennessee in Greensboro, but soon faced a heartbreaking defeat against USC, where they had led by double digits in the fourth quarter, and then suffered an upset at home against TCU. With this latest loss to Rhode Island, NC State is likely to drop out of the latest AP rankings.
Duke experienced a complete meltdown against West Virginia last week, resulting in their removal from the AP Top 25 after losing to a team that had only five players available in the second half. The reigning ACC champions then followed this with a 13-point defeat to South Florida.
The Blue Devils seem to be struggling with consistency, toughness, and offensive output. Meanwhile, North Carolina State is desperately in need of a game-changer after obtaining two first-round WNBA draft picks, and time is not on their side.
More disappointments have plagued the ACC this season. SMU lost by double digits to Grand Canyon and subsequently fell to North Texas by three points. Pitt was defeated by a Division III team, and UMBC scored a victory over Virginia—seriously, the Cavaliers might want to reevaluate things after that. Boston College has lost to four of its New England rivals, while Georgia Tech lost at home to Jacksonville. James Madison triumphed over Virginia Tech, and Florida State suffered losses to both Florida and Navy.
Apart from NC State’s opening win over Tennessee, only Notre Dame has managed to beat an AP-ranked opponent in these initial weeks, narrowly defeating No. 11 USC, after previously losing to Michigan by 39 points.
Outside of these two ranked victories, pinpointing a standout win for an ACC program has been tricky. It might be North Carolina’s win over Fairfield, Syracuse’s victory against Utah, or Miami’s triumph over Davidson—all occurring on neutral ground.
As the ACC prepares for another Feast Week multi-team event and the ACC-SEC Challenge, these events present crucial opportunities to accumulate impressive non-conference wins.
At this juncture, it feels unlikely for any team other than North Carolina, Notre Dame, or the unbeaten Stanford to secure a top-16 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
