GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Ishua Benjamin scored a season-high 25 points as North Carolina State overcame a miserable start to the second half to edge Florida State 65-63 in the first round of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament Thursday night.

The No. 8 seed Wolfpack (16-13) started the second period 1-for-13 from the field to fall behind by eight, but went on an 18-0 run to advance to the second round against No. 4 North Carolina, a team they upset 86-72 less than two weeks ago in Chapel Hill.

The Seminoles (17-13) dropped their seventh straight ACC tourney game and six of their last seven regular season games after being ranked as high as No. 13 on Jan. 5.

FLORIDA STATE, THE NO. 7 SEED, played all but one minute of the second half without leading scorer Terrell Baker, who suffered a deep shoulder bruise in the opening 20 minutes and didn't score.

Benjamin, who scored 14 in the first half, sparked the Wolfpack with seven straight points after its shooting woes to pull within one before C.C. Harrison closed out the 18-0 run with a nine-point surge and N.C. State led 51-41 with 6:29 left.

Eight of the 18 Wolfpack points came off Florida State turnovers as the Seminoles were held scoreless for a six-minute stretch.

Florida State closed to 64-63 after the Wolfpack missed four free throws and LaMarr Greet nailed an off-balanced 3-pointer with nine second left. But Kenny Inge made a free throw three seconds later and Tim Wells, inserted for defense in the final seconds, blocked Kerry Thompson's layup attempt at the buzzer to secure the Wolfpack victory.

Benjamin's previous season high was 22 against Clemson on Jan. 31. The senior was 9-for-9 from the foul line to extend his consecutive foul-shooting streak to 33.

Harrison added 15 points for the Wolfpack, while LaMarr Greer had 18 for Florida State.

The Seminoles had outrebounded the Wolfpack a combined 73-38 in 68-55 and 64-52 wins during the regular season, but N.C. State held its own on the boards this time around.