RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)—Dominic James’ 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds remaining lifted Marquette past North Carolina State 68-65 on Monday night.
Jerel McNeal scored 20 points and James added 18 for the Golden Eagles (10-2).
Brandon Costner matched a season high with 24 points on 9-of-10 shooting to lead N.C. State (7-2), which couldn’t overcome 18 turnovers and had no answer down the stretch for James.
Marquette’s diminutive point guard corralled the rebound of Ben McCauley’s miss in traffic with about 30 seconds left and the game tied at 65-all. The Golden Eagles called timeout and James dribbled out most of the clock before coming left off a screen and swishing his third 3 of the final 4 minutes.
McCauley caught Costner’s desperation inbounds heave, turned and hit a turnaround jumper—but it came an instant after the horn, and the forward was a step inside the 3-point arc anyway.
