ACC Tournament 2012 Scores: Updates and Analysis for All Games

The ACC Tournament is set to begin Thursday, March 8 and it’s finally nearing the end of an extremely long and taxing season for most teams.

Duke and North Carolina are favorites to meet for the third time this season in the championship, but it’s far from guaranteed and all 12 teams competing have a chance to win it all in 2012.

It’s going to be an exciting and incredible tournament as usual, so keep reading to find out where to catch all the action and updates on the latest scores.

*All Game Times EST; All Games Take Place in Philips Arena, Atlanta, Ga.; All Games Broadcast Nationally via ESPN, Locally by ACC Network.

First Round - Thursday, March 8

Game 1 - No. 8 Maryland vs. No. 9 Wake Forest – 12:00 p.m. (ESPNU/ACC Network)

Final Score: Maryland 82, Wake Forest 60

The Terps aren’t dead yet.

Behind 25 points, seven rebounds and four assists from Terrell Stoglin, Maryland played one of their most complete games of the entire season.

Nick Faust added 19 points and five rebounds as the team shot a blistering 54.4-percent from the field (31-of-57). Aside from the hot shooting, the Terps out-rebounded the Demon Deacons by a 36-to-20 margin. Travis McKie led Wake Forest with 22 points and eight rebounds.

The most encouraging sign for Terp fans is the 18 total assists Maryland registered. During the regular season they were a putrid 323^rd in the country, averaging only 10.4 a game.

Next up for the Terps is a date with UNC, another must-win. As for Wake Forest, their season has officially come to a close. 

--Eric Ball

Game 2 - No. 5 NC State vs. No. 12 Boston College – 2:00 p.m. (ESPNU/ACC)

Final Score: North Carolina St. 78, Boston College 57

The Wolfpack and their NCAA Tournament chances are still alive and well after their blowout win over the Eagles.

NC State jumped out to a 37-24 lead at halftime and never looked back. Scott Wood finished with 22 points while knocking down 5-of-9 three-pointers. Richard Howell and CJ Leslie combined for 20 points and 23 rebounds and DeShawn Painter added 10 off the bench. As a team, the Wolfpack connected on 42-percent of their three’s (8-of-19) and committed eight less turnovers (19-to-11).

Ryan Anderson led Boston College with 22 points and 12 rebounds.

Next up for the Wolfpack is a date with No. 4 Virginia. A win and they are likely going to the NCAA Tournament. BC officially ends their season without the opportunity for postseason play because of their losing record. 

--Eric Ball

Game 3 - No. 7 Clemson vs. No. 10 Virginia Tech – 7:00 p.m. (ESPNU/ACC)

Final Score: Virginia Tech 68, Clemson 63

The Virginia Tech Hokies erased a five-point halftime deficit behind 24 points from Erick Green and aggressiveness around the basket to pull off the Round 1 upset.

The junior guard shot a blistering 7-of-11 from the floor, but more importantly consistently attacked the basket and converted all eight of his attempts from the foul line.

As a team the Hokies converted on 17-of-20 freebies while Clemson only hit 9-of-15.  In a game where virtually every other stat was dead-even, this was the big difference in the game.

Up next for the Hokies is Duke. While a win would be huge, V-Tech isn't getting in unless they end up winning the whole tournament. Clemson's season comes to a close with a poor 16-15 record. 

--Eric Ball

Game 4 - No. 6 Miami vs. No. 11 Georgia Tech – 9:00 p.m. (ESPNU/ACC)

Final Score: Miami 54, Georgia Tech 36

Well that was ugly.

With Miami clinching to the hopes of landing a NCAA bid, they found themselves down 20-19 against the worst team in the ACC at the half. They couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn.

But they outscored the Yellow Jackets by 19 in the second half with ultra-aggressive defense that saved the day, and kept Miami’s bubble from bursting. The Yellow Jackets turned the ball over 20 times, to only 11 for Miami.

Despite not possessing a single player that scored over 12 points, while shooting 33-percent from the floor (18-of-54), they still won by 18. I’m not sure what that says about Georgia Tech but it’s not good.

Miami now must prepare for a date with Florida State, while Georgia Tech is done for the season.

--Eric Ball

Quarterfinals - Friday, March 9

Game 5 - No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 8 Maryland – 12:00 p.m. (ESPN2/ACC Network)

Final Score: North Carolina 85, Maryland 69

North Carolina built a 10-point halftime lead and then put it into cruise control in the second half to defeat Maryland. Five Tar Heels scored at least 13 points, including James McAdoo, who was filling in for an injured John Henson.

Henson hurt his left wrist in the first half, but there was no immediate update on his status for tomorrow's semifinal game. Even though the Tar Heels have terrific depth, losing him for any period of time would be a big blow.

Otherwise, there wasn't much to be concerned about for head coach Roy Williams. North Carolina controlled the glass, dished out 21 assists and shot 50 percent from the floor. Kendall Marshall recorded a double-double with 13 points and 12 helpers.

Terrell Stoglin led the way for the Terrapins with 30 points. He didn't get enough help from his supporting cast, however. His teammates shot just 32 percent from the field, which isn't good enough to knock off a powerhouse like North Carolina.

--Tim Daniels

Game 6 - No. 4 Virginia vs. No. 5 North Carolina State – 2:00 p.m. (ESPN2/ACC)

Final Score: North Carolina State 67, Virginia 64

The Wolfpack were able to hang on despite a late charge by Virginia to secure a berth in the ACC semifinals. They'll face off with in-state rival North Carolina, which should be a terrific test of the team's progress since two earlier losses to the Tar Heels.

C.J. Leslie led the way with 19 points and 14 rebounds. He was a dominant force throughout the game on both ends of the court. Lorenzo Brown and Richard Howell provided the support with a combined total of 25 points. Brown chipped in eight assists as well.

If there's one concern they should have heading into tomorrow's game, it's rebounding. The Cavaliers grabbed five more boards than N.C. State. The Tar Heels have plenty of size up front, so the Wolfpack will need to make sure they box out.

It was a disappointing end for Virginia. Mike Scott and Joe Harris held up their end of the bargain as usual. Scott scored 23 points and had 11 rebounds. Harris poured in 18 of his own. They didn't get enough help from the role players, though.

--Tim Daniels

Game 7 -  No. 2 Duke vs. No. 10 Virginia Tech – 7:00 p.m. (ESPN2/ACC)

Final Score: Duke 60, Virginia Tech 56

Duke won a sloppy game against Virginia Tech to advance to the semifinals of the ACC Tournament with a slim four-point victory. 

After a close first half, Duke jumped out to a 10-point second half lead but allowed the Hokies to climb within a few points before hanging on at the end.

Mason Plumlee recorded a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds for Duke, who dominated the paint at both ends of the floor. Duke freshman guard Austin Rivers led all scorers with 17 points.

The Blue Devils shot just 5-26 from the three-point line in this game, which has to improve if they are to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.

Erick Green and Robert Brown each had 16 points for the Hokies, who shot an abysmal 30 percent from the field.

-- Nicholas Goss

Game 8 - No. 3 Florida State vs. No. 6 Miami – 9:00 p.m. (ESPN2/ACC)

Final Score: Florida State 82, Miami 71

The Seminoles emphatically ended the rival Hurricanes ACC Tournament last night. 

It almost wasn't fair considering that the 'Canes leading scorer, Durand Scott, was ruled ineligible prior to the contest. 

Regardless, FSU handled their business and shot a solid percentage from the field (48 percent) and deep (56.3 percent) while limiting Miami to 40 percent field goal percentage and hindering their snipers into a 10-25 night from downtown. 

Florida State's interior D was also fantastic and they came up with 10 blocks on top of forcing a number of changed shots. 

They advance to face Duke in a tough semifinal matchup. 

Semifinals - Saturday, March 10

Game 9 - North Carolina vs. North Carolina State – 1:00 p.m. (ESPN/ACC Network)

Final Score: UNC 69, NC State 67

Despite playing a man down, the Tar Heels are heading to the ACC title game to take on the winner between Duke and Florida State.

Forward Henson was kept out of Saturday's semifinal matchup, as he hurt his wrist in the previous matchup with the Terrapins.

It wasn't easy for the No. 4 team in the nation, but in the end they came out on top. 

Coming into the second half down 31-34, the Tar Heels needed everything they could to get past the Wolfpack. 

Zeller and Barnes kept the team in it with 23 and 16 points, respectively, but the team found themselves in a world of trouble when Zeller fouled out with little time left in the half.

Down by one with less then a minute left, Barnes was sent to the foul line where he went 1-2. With the scored tied at 67-67, the Wolfpack's Alex Johnson turned the ball over which eventually led to a Tar Heels basket by Kendall Marshall.

Pending one last heave-and-shot play by the Wolfpack, it was pretty much wrapped up. NC State couldn't find enough time with .6 seconds on the clock, which ended the thrilling match up.

It will now remain to be seen who the Tar Heels will take on next, as a matchup with Duke could be the deciding factor in who gets a No. 1 seed on Selection Sunday.

--Jeff Chase

Game 10 - Florida State vs. Duke – 3.00 p.m. (ESPN/ACC)

Final Score: FSU 62, Duke 59

Well, pending some major event on Selection Sunday, it looks as if the Tar Heels have officially locked up a No. 1 seed with Duke falling to the Seminoles in the ACC tournament semifinals.

The Seminoles played as good as anyone could have asked for, and they will likely give the Tar Heels a run for their money in the final game of the tourney.

The team ended the first half with a two point lead, and they stayed strong throughout the second half to keep that lead alive to claim a victory.

Michael Snaer led the attack with 16 points, four rebounds an six assists, along with two steals and two blocks. The team lost guard Ian Miller after he fouled out in the earlier goings of the second half, but the team was able to stay strong behind solid performances from Okaro White and Bernard James.

The Blue Devils stayed in it as long as they could, as Rivers kept the team alive in the later parts of the second half. He drove in a lay that brought the game within in one, but a heroic two-pointer by Luke Loucks put the game back up by three which pretty much sealed the deal.

Duke made one last effort with less then 10 seconds on the clock, as Rivers chucked up a three. It was just off, and resulted in FSU's possession.

The Seminoles chucked the ball to mid-court, but it ended up in Seth Curry's hands, who made one last effort towards the basket.

The three-pointer went in-and-out, at which point the buzzer went off to send the Seminoles to the final against UNC.

--Jeff Chase

Championship Game - Sunday, March 11

Game 11 - North Carolina vs. Florida State – 1:00 p.m. (ESPN/ACC Network)

Final Score: Florida State 85 North Carolina 82

So maybe the ACC is a stronger conference than you think.

The Seminoles literally muscled their way past the Tar Heels to improve their seeding tremendously. Tournament MVP Michael Snaer had 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting. Deividas Dulkys finished with 16 points and four rebounds while Luke Loucks dished out 13 assists in addition to scoring 10 points.

After blowing North Carolina out by 33 earlier in the year, it’s clear the Seminoles have the potential No. 1 seed’s number.  Harrison Barnes finished with 23 points and seven rebounds in the losing effort.

The Tar Heels are now on the bubble for a one seed and the Seminoles are going to sky-rocket up to a four, and potentially even a three-seed. 

--Eric Ball