RALEIGH, N.C. — In a thrilling contest on Saturday, Ian Jackson delivered a stellar performance, contributing 21 points to lead North Carolina to a narrow 63-61 win over rivals N.C. State. Jalen Washington played a crucial role in the closing moments, making the decisive basket and then securing the victory with a pivotal block.

With the game tied at 61, Washington soared for a dunk, breaking the deadlock with just 24 seconds on the clock. He further sealed the win by swatting away Jayden Taylor’s attempt at a layup on the ensuing possession. Washington not only showcased his defensive skills with three blocked shots but also achieved his first career double-double, posting 11 points alongside 12 rebounds. Jackson was effective from beyond the arc, hitting five three-pointers and finishing with a shooting percentage of 53% on 15 attempts. RJ Davis added to the scoring efforts with 11 points for North Carolina, which improved to 11-3 overall and 7-1 in the ACC.

For N.C. State, Marcus Hill was a standout performer, registering 20 points and pulling down nine rebounds, despite the team’s struggles with three losses in their last four outings. Jayden Taylor contributed 12 points, and Ben Middlebrooks dominated the boards with 14 rebounds. The Tar Heels maintained a lead for much of the match, at one point stretching it to nine points with a score of 56-47 with roughly six minutes remaining. However, Hill’s scoring prowess helped the Wolfpack mount a comeback, as he tallied six points during a pivotal 12-2 run that gave them a fleeting lead of 59-58 with just over two minutes left on the clock.

Now moving forward, North Carolina has a home game scheduled against California on Wednesday, where they will seek to extend their current winning streak to four games. Meanwhile, N.C. State is set to face Virginia Tech on the same day, aiming to get back on track after their recent losses.