North Carolina State stuns Houston to win title
On April 4, 1983 – 1983: With 10 defeats, it didn’t appear as if North Carolina State was going to be invited to the “Big Dance.” But the Wolfpack surprisingly wins the ACC tournament and is in the NCAA Tournament. But it isn’t expected to do much. Given a sixth seed, it’s a 25-1 long shot to win the tournament.
But N.C. State wins five games — three by two points or less — to reach tonight’s final against Houston, winner of 26 straight with a running, flying, dunking attack. Using slowdown tactics, N.C. State takes a 33-25 halftime lead before Houston, with Akeem Olajuwon, goes on a 17-2 tear to grab a 44-37 edge. Clyde Drexler’s two free throws give the Cougars a 52-46 lead with 3:19 left. It’s their last points.
The final insult for Houston comes when Lorenzo Charles slams home Dereck Whittenburg’s 32-foot air ball at the buzzer, giving N.C. State a stunning 54-52 victory in Albuquerque.
“Here they are all season, bragging about their dunks, calling themselves Phi Slama Jama,” says NC State’s Alvin Battle, “and they get one slama in the middle of the game, and we get one jama at the end. It’s real ironic, isn’t it?”
And when N.C. State becomes the first team to win the national title with double-digit losses, its emotional leader, coach Jim Valvano, rushes on to the court, looking for somebody to hug.
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