RALEIGH, N.C. -- Michael Thompson scored 22 points and Northwestern beat North Carolina State 65-53 on Tuesday night in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.
Jeremy Nash added 12 points for the Wildcats (6-1). Northwestern led by 14, only briefly trailed and won its fifth straight -- the last three coming against teams that entered unbeaten.
Tracy Smith had a season-high 23 points -- including 10 in a row down the stretch for the Wolfpack (5-1) -- on 9-for-18 shooting.
N.C. State cut it to 57-52 on Julius Mays' layup at the two-minute mark before Northwestern put the game in its point guard's hands. Thompson converted a three-point play about 30 seconds later, then added another free throw to make it a nine-point game and give the Wildcats plenty of breathing room.
