North Carolina

No. 4 North Carolina braces for stern test vs. NC State in ACC final

Published

2 years ago

March 16, 2024

No. 4 North Carolina braces for stern test vs. NC State in ACC final

WASHINGTON — This time a year ago, North Carolina was wondering if it would crack the NCAA Tournament on Selection Sunday. The Tar Heels didn’t, becoming the first team ranked No. 1 in the preseason Associated Press poll to miss the field since it expanded to 64 teams.

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And what a difference a year makes.

North Carolina hit the reset button in the offseason, reshuffling its roster after a disappointing campaign. Those pieces have proven to mesh, and now the No. 4 Tar Heels are eyeing their first Atlantic Coast Conference tournament title since 2016 when they face 10th-seeded North Carolina State on Saturday.

“Everybody expected this to be Carolina and Duke. Well, it’s Carolina and NC State,” Wolfpack coach Kevin Keatts said with a smile. “We play pretty good basketball at NC State, too.”

It will be the seventh time in the history of the ACC tournament that UNC and rival NC State have met in the title game. The Heels are 4-2 all-time against the Wolfpack in such games, last beating them for the crown in 2007.

Unlike a year ago, UNC (27-6) is not in a position in which it must worry about cracking the NCAA Tournament field. At stake now for the Heels is seeding.

But that’s all in the future. The immediate task at hand for the Tar Heels is winning what would be their 19th ACC crown.

“It would mean a lot to this program just because we haven’t won it in a couple of years,” guard RJ Davis said. “It just shows how much of a team we are and how resilient we are. We set goals at the beginning of this year, and for us to be one more game away means a lot, but the job is not finished. Just got to take it one game at a time.”

Davis, the ACC Player of the Year, saved the day for the Tar Heels in the semifinals against fourth-seeded Pitt on Friday. He scored just six points in the first half as UNC trailed by two at the break, then he exploded for 19 points in the second half to power UNC to a 72-65 victory.

Armando Bacot’s play was key, too, as he piled up 19 points and 11 rebounds.

“It’s not just tonight,” UNC coach Hubert Davis said. “RJ and Armando and Harrison (Ingram), they’ve shown up the entire season.”

This run for NC State (21-14) is reminiscent of its 1987 season, when it lived up to its “Cardiac Pack” nickname by winning two overtime games in the ACC tournament before beating UNC by a single point for the championship. That was the last time NC State won the ACC tournament.

After finishing their regular season on a four-game losing streak, the Wolfpack have now won four games in four days to advance to the title game. Since the tournament expanded to its current format, no team that played on its first day had ever advanced to the championship, until now.

“I’ve never worried about fatigue with our team. I really haven’t. I haven’t even talked about it,” Keatts said. “I’ve got 100 percent buy-in, and those guys are buying in and they’re working. I’m coaching them, but they’re doing all the heavy lifting.”

Along the way, NC State beat Louisville, Syracuse, No. 11 Duke and Virginia to make the championship game. Against the Cavaliers on Friday, the Wolfpack needed an improbable and ridiculous buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Michael O’Connell to push the game into overtime. Then, DJ Burns went to work, scoring seven of his 19 points in the extra period.

Burns is averaging 14.0 points per game in the tournament.

UNC beat NC State in both regular-season meetings this, winning by 13 points in Chapel Hill and nine in Raleigh.

The Tar Heels and Wolfpack last met in the ACC tournament in 2012, when UNC beat NC State in the semifinals.

Can NC State’s unlikely run continue by winning its fifth game in five days?

“Whatever happens, we’re battle tested,” NC State guard Casey Morsell said. “Move on to the next one and have a short memory.”

—Mitchell Northam, Field Level Media

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North Carolina

55 new troopers graduate from North Carolina State Highway Patrol training

Published

17 hours ago

November 23, 2025

Press Room

55 new troopers graduate from North Carolina State Highway Patrol training

CARY, N.C. (WTVD) — The North Carolina State Highway Patrol celebrated the graduation of 55 new troopers.

The ceremony was held at Shepard’s Church in Cary. The 166th Basic Highway Patrol School graduates completed a rigorous 15-week training program covering firearms, vehicle operations, crash investigation, emergency response, physical fitness, de-escalation, and state law.

Chief Justice Paul Newby administered the oath of office, while Governor Josh Stein, the guest speaker, commended the graduates for their dedication to public service.

“It takes a special person to work in law enforcement,” Stein said. “I thank each of you for your commitment to protecting the public and will continue to advocate for the pay and respect law enforcement officers deserve.”

Colonel Freddy L. Johnson Jr., commander of the State Highway Patrol, praised the graduates for their determination and character.

“Their willingness to earn the title of Trooper reflects their desire to serve the communities of this state,” he said.

The new troopers will begin their field training on December 10 at their assigned duty stations.

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North Carolina

Lincoln County man sentenced for 2023 murder of girlfriend’s mother

Published

1 day ago

November 22, 2025

Press Room

Lincoln County man sentenced for 2023 murder of girlfriend’s mother

LINCOLN COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A Lincoln County man was sentenced this week for the death of a 63-year-old woman in October of 2023.

Michael Steven Ricker has been charged with the death of Lesa Armstrong Rose, his girlfriend’s mother. He was also out on bond at the time for shooting and injuring her father.

He pled guilty to a charge of second-degree murder, amended from the original charge of first-degree murder.

Riker was sentenced to 397 to 489 months in the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections with 760 days credit for time served.

In related charges from Catawba County that will run concurrent with the Lincoln County charges are 84 to 113 months for discharging a firearm into an occupied property and 96 to 125 months for attempted first-degree murder.

CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY

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North Carolina

NC woman detained while at work in Raleigh moved to Georgia facility to await hearing

Published

2 days ago

November 21, 2025

Press Room

NC woman detained while at work in Raleigh moved to Georgia facility to await hearing

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — A Wake County woman, detained by immigration officials earlier this week, will face a judge in Georgia next week.

Border Patrol agents detained Fatima Issela Velazquez-Antonio on Tuesday at a job site in Raleigh.

Her family says she has been held at a facility in Lumpkin, GA, and will face a judge on Tuesday to find out if she can be released on bond.

Gene Smith is the boyfriend of Velazquez-Antonio’s aunt. He says the family has been heartbroken since she was detained.

“The main question is, is she coming home? That’s the million-dollar question,” he said.

Smith says the 23-year-old came to the U.S. from Honduras as an unaccompanied minor at 14 and was granted asylum.

“She’s a good kid. She works hard. She loves her family. She loves her nieces and nephews without having kids of her own,” he said.

The Corinth Holders High School graduate came to the U.S. after losing her mom to cancer and her father to gang violence.

Fatima Issela Velazquez-Antonio

Ashley Lively is representing Velazquez-Antonio. Lively says Velazquez-Antonio has no criminal history aside from minor traffic violations and had no warrant out for her arrest prior to being detained.

Lively also says Velazquez-Antonio has a valid working permit, a social security number, and has not missed any prior interviews or hearings with the Department of Homeland Security.

“She had the right to remain in the United States while her case was being adjudicated. She did not have any sort of legal, permanent immigration status,” said Lively. “She had done everything right and was just waiting for her case to be adjudicated.”

Velazquez-Antonio’s case is now catching the attention of local elected leaders, including those in Washington, D.C.

Wendell Town Commissioner Deans Eatman posted on Facebook, saying in part, “Fatima deserves answers. Her family deserves answers.”

Rep. Deborah Ross is now looking into Velazquez-Antonio’s case.

A spokeswoman for her office told Eyewitness News, “Our office has been in touch with the lawyer representing Fatima Issela Velazquez-Antonio to better understand the case and if there is any support and assistance we can offer.”

“I’m deeply concerned by some of the reports I’ve seen about CBP detaining Wake County residents, including a teenager,” said Rep. Ross. “I will work with state and local partners to protect our residents from violations of their rights by federal immigration officers.”

Smith says the family just hopes to see her again soon.

“She cares about family and she loves the United States. She wants to stay and I hope that she will be allowed to,” he said.

Eyewitness News reached out to DHS for answers as to why Velazquez-Antonio was detained and what her current condition is.

DHS has not responded with details.