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RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — T.J. Warren scored a career-high 42 points to help North Carolina State beat Boston College 78-68 on Sunday in the regular-season finale for both teams.
Warren had 22 by halftime and shot 14-for-23 for the Wolfpack (19-12, 9-9 Atlantic Coast Conference), who blew a 14-point second-half lead before pushing ahead in the final 6 minutes. It marked the third time in four games that the ACC's leading scorer had scored at least 36 points, including his previous career-high of 41 in his last outing at Pittsburgh last week.
Still, he had to outduel Boston College's Olivier Hanlan to level the Wolfpack's league record heading into this week's ACC tournament in Greensboro. Hanlan finished with 29 points on 10-for-17 shooting for the Eagles (8-23, 4-14).
Warren, a 6-foot-8 sophomore, was unstoppable all day. Fittingly, he came up with the go-ahead baskets that helped the Wolfpack avoid a bad home loss.
First he drove the left baseline and hit a floater while drawing the foul, a three-point play that put N.C. State up 59-58 with 5:58 left. Warren grabbed a loose rebound in transition and scored on a putback on the next possession, then followed with two free throws that capped his personal 7-0 burst to give N.C. State a 63-58 lead with 4:42 left.
Warren also assisted on Des Lee's 3-pointer during the Wolfpack's clinching push, then matched his 41 points from the Pitt win by hitting a pair of free throws with 2:18 left to give N.C. State a 69-60 lead.
He set his new career high with a free throw at the 1:19 mark.
Warren, who will be the first Wolfpack player to lead the ACC in scoring since the 1995-96 season, also finished with 13 rebounds and went 14-for-17 at the foul line in 39 minutes. It marked his ninth game with at least 30 points this season, including his 36 points in an overtime home loss to rival North Carolina on Feb. 26.
By the final minute, N.C. State fans were chanting Warren's name in what could be his final home game if he heads to the NBA draft, followed by chants of "One more year!"
Lee finished with 11 points as the only other player in double figures for the Wolfpack, who shot 49 percent.
Ryan Anderson added 15 points for BC, which shot 42 percent.
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