A topnotch performance for #7 North Carolina, as they defeated rival NC State 86-74 at the Raleigh RBC Center Tuesday night.  A career best 22 points for Kendall Marshall along with 13 assists led the way for the Tar Heels.  Harrison Barnes added twenty, as all five Carolina starters scored in double figures.  C.J. Leslie had a career high 24 points for State.  UNC vaulted to an early 19-5 lead, which they eventually gave up to a 30-30 tie, then led by five at half46-41.  Carolina led by as many as 18 before settling for the final margin of twelve.  North Carolina is now 24-4 overall, and a top of the conference 11-2 mark.  For NC State, they lost for the third straight time in the conference which makes them 7-6, 18-10 overall.  Carolina plays at Virginia Saturday in their next game. 

In other ACC action Tuesday, Virginia edged Virginia Tech in Blacksburg 61-59, Clemson routed Georgia Tech in Atlanta 56-37, and Maryland downed Miami at College Park 75-70.  No games scheduled in the ACC Wednesday, but a big one Thursday night, as Duke plays at Florida State with an airtime of 6:00PM for a 7:00PM tipoff on Newsradio 1490 with the Duke network.

Tonight also marks the final home games of the regular season for Catawba, as the Indians Men’s and Women’s teams host Mars Hill.  The Women, who are tied for first place, play at 6:00PM, and the men follow at 8:00PM..The men need a win to help nail down a spot in the SAC Tournament next week.  Charlotte will host George Washington in an Atlantic Ten game Wedenesday night at 7:30PM

Another win for the Livingstone Men Monday night at Fayetteville State 74-65  Greg Henry had 19 points to lead the Bears point production, and Nasir Austin added thirteen points and eleven rebounds.  It was the third win a row for Livingstone, who is now in a three way tie for second place in the Southern Division of the CIAA.  The Livingstone Women lost to Fayetteville State 78-71.

Tonight in the ACC, North Carolina is at NC State.  Airtime is 7:00PM for an 8:00PM tipoff.  State will be trying to avoid a three game losing streak in the ACC. Other Games in the Conference include:  Clemson at Georgia Tech  7:00PM,  Miami  at  Maryland  8:00PM, and Virginia at Virginia Tech  9:00PM.  Duke plays at Florida State Thursday night.

Sectional Playoffs began for High School Basketball Monday.  Four Rowan County teams were victorious in their opening round games and will be going on the second round play on Wednesday.  The North Rowan Boys exploded out to a 31-5 lead at the end of the first quarter and rolled to an easy 89-34 win over West Montgomery at the North Gym.  The Cavaliers defeated their conference foe decisively for a third straight time this year, and will move on to host Lake Norman Charter in their second round game Wednesday, also at the North gym. Lake Norman Charter ousted Albemarle Monday night.  Newsradio 1490 will have broadcast coverage of the game, with pregame at 6:35PM, tipoff at 7:00PM….Other winners included Salisbury’s Boys over North Lincoln 63-47, as the Hornets broke away in the second half after begin tied 25-25 at halftime.  Tyler Petty had his best game of the season with 22 points, 11 rebounds, and four blocked shots.  Tony Nunn added 17 pints, six rebounds, and four blocks.  Salisbury will travel to face West Stokes at King, NC Wednesday.  West Rowan got a saving three by Keshaun Sherrill at the end of regulation to tie the game, then won in overtime at Weddington 69-66.  Sherrill had 27 points for the game, 19 of those in the fourth quarter and overtime.  The Falcons will travel again to Concord for their second round game Wednesday.  And Salisbury’s Girls romped past South Iredell 81-45 with Brielle Blair scoring 21 points.  The Lady Hornets host West Stokes on Wednesday…All games are due to start at 7:00PM 

Seasons ended for East Rowan Boys and Girls, South Rowan’s Boys, Carson Girls, West Rowan Girls, and North Rowan Girls.  Statesville crushed the South Rowan Boys 49-35,  Robinson easily handled East Rowan’s Boys 66-40, Carson’s Girls were upset at home by Concord 68-59,  North Iredell ousted East Rowan’s Girls 43-28, Robinson demolished West Rowan’s Girls 78-42, and North Rowan’s Girls were victims of Lake Norman Charter 46-33.

State Basketball Sectional competition gets started Monday and continues on to the end of the week.  Games involving Rowan County Schools include: 

1A:  (Girls) North Rowan at Lake Norman Charter 7:00PM  (Boys)  West Montgomery at North Rowan (Newsradio 1490 and 1490wstp.com will have play by play coverage starting with pregame at 6:35Pm, tipoff at 7:00PM.

2A:  (Girls) South Iredell at Salisbury 6:00PM   (Boys) North Lincoln at Salisbury 7:30PM

3A: (Boys) West Rowan at Weddington 7:00PM  (Boys)  South Rowan at Statesville  7:00PM  (Boys)  East Rowan at Robinson  8:00PM   (Girls)  West Rowan at Robinson 6:30PM  (Girls) East Rowan at North Iredell 7:00PM  (Girls) Concord at Carson  7:00PM  (Girls) Kannapolis at Ledford  7:00PM  (Boys)  Kannapolis at Harding 8:00PM

4A:  (Boys)  Greensboro Smith at Davie County 7:00PM 

First Round Winners will play Wednesday at the Higher Seeds and the Sectionals continue through Friday..Beginning next week, Western Regionals in Greensboro, and the State Championships will take place the following weekend for the survivors of the Regionals.  Newsradio 1490 will have play by play coverage of the North Rowan Boys this week, all week, if they keep winning.

Carl Edwards is on the pole for this coming Sunday’s Daytona 500 with a top qualifying speed of 194.738 MPH edging out Ford and Roush Racing Teammate, Greg Biffle for the top spot..Biffle qualified for the outside pole with a speed of 194.087.  Rest of the qualifying field and order will be determined  by the qualifying duals on Thursday afternoon.

The Charlotte Bobcats lost at Indiana 108-73.  The Pacers were led by Roy Hibbert with 18 points and 14 rebounds.  The Bobcats, have lost 17 of 18 and have a record of 4-27.