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#3 NC State Falls to #13 Virginia Tech on a Buzzer Beater 62-63: BOX SCORE (with notes)

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#3 NC State Falls to #13 Virginia Tech on a Buzzer Beater 62-63: BOX SCORE (with notes)


NC State just made easy work of a pretty darn good 11-3 Virginia team on Saturday, 76-60.

That win brings NC State to 11-3 on the season and 3-0 in the conference, both tied for the best mark in the ACC. Pretty impressive for an almost completely retooled roster. So what is it that’s working for the Pack right now? Here are our top 3 things…

1. They have accepted DJ Burns as a point Center
First off, they have started to really play through DJ Burns. When NC State is at its best, Burns is touching the ball every time down. Having a touch on almost every possession is vital for the big man because it makes their defense reactionary. There aren’t many bigs in the country who can handle DJ one on one. Establishing him early is the key. They did this against UVA and while Burns only ended with 6 points and 4 assists, his early dominance shifted UVA’s entire defensively strategy for the rest of the game.

Earlier this season there were big chunks of time when Burns would go without a touch. Then when he finally got one, it seemed like he felt required to force a shot up. Lately, they’ve been playing through him a lot more, and with more touches, you’re seeing Burns become more patient. And when he’s patient he’s extremely dangerous.

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Passing out of the post is such an advantage and that luxury State has isn’t talked about enough. First off, when Burns gets the ball, all eyes go to him. The defenders know they may need to help, and at the same time, they know they need to keep track of their man, because Burns can find them. This has their heads on a swivel and really puts pressure on them.

If Burns starts backing in, they need to send a double-team, or bluff with a hedging defender. Either way, it puts them out of position, and it only takes a second for DJ to make you pay. There are only a handful of games where teams will have a big they feel can match up with Burns. Everyone else will need to use help-side. If NC State can keep focusing on playing through DJ on the block, they will be at a huge advantage for all of those games.

2. Keatts has traded fast breaks and volume scoring for pace control, ball security, and ball movement
To all of you out there who have criticized Kevin Keatts for never changing, you need to ceed some ground here. And while I’ve been on record supporting Keatts, his reluctance to adjust his system has been one area that I’ll admit has been frustrating.

I’ve said for years that Keatts needs to bring in a true PG and stop relying on 2 guards who can dribble. His tenure has been flush with guys who can score, but when his teams are forced into a half-court game, they look lost, constantly just isolating and trying to beat their man off the dribble. That’s not efficient basketball, nor is it good for team morale.

Enter Mike O’Connell. When State landed him from Standford, everyone was probably wondering why NC State would take a senior lead guard who averaged just 5 points per game and shot only 30% from 3 point range. Well, check out the past 4 games and you’ll see why.

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Over those past 4 games, O’Connell’s minutes have ticked up and so have the assist totals. During that span, O’Connell has 17 assists and ZERO turnovers. When O’Connell is in there, the ball moves and NC State gets open shots.

Now, this is going to touch on my next point, but there are games where O’Connell won’t be able to be out there. O’Connell has trouble against small, lighting quick guards (both defending them, and handling the ball against them), but when you’re playing a team that wants to slow the pace down, or a team that has a good matchup for O’Connell, you want him out there because with him and Burns on the floor, defenders can’t get comfortable. Suddenly every single off-ball cut is a potential bucket.

Keatts came to Raleigh wanting to turn games into track meets, but after 6+ years he sees that in the ACC, valuing possessions and making the defense work has its benefits. NC State can still press and ball-hawk on defense, but offensively they are starting to find success in taking their time and working a bit to find open shots.

3. This team has the versatility of an elite contender
Piggy-backing on my last point, this roster, if managed correctly, can be elite. The pieces Keatts has this season allow him to play many different types of basketball. As I just pointed out, he can go with a more controlled, slower pace attack. He can go athletic with Horne and Taylor at the top. He can go big and long with Diarra at the 4, or big and bruising with Middlebrooks at the 4. He can go athletic and bruising with Rice at the 4. Or he could go athletic and spread the floor without losing much rebounding, thanks to the emergence of freshman Dennis Parker Jr.

This team has pieces and options in a way that they can really match up with anyone on any given night. This is something you usually only see with the top 15 teams in the country, and this year we have it.

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While this is exciting, I think it puts a lot more pressure and scrutiny on Keatts. He has to be able to manage this group, see what’s needed, and adjust. He has the horses, and so far it looks like he’s adjusting to that fact. He’ll need to continue to do that with #8 UNC and Wake as 2 of their next 3 opponents.



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Man shot, killed by Virginia trooper ID’d after crash ends in deadly stabbing attack

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Man shot, killed by Virginia trooper ID’d after crash ends in deadly stabbing attack


Virginia State Police have identified the man who was shot and killed by a trooper after a crash ended in a stabbing attack on Interstate 495 Sunday afternoon.

Jared Llamado, 32, of McLean, died at the hospital on Sunday after he was shot.

RELATED | 2 dead, dog killed after stabbing spree, trooper shooting on I-495 in Fairfax County

Investigators said Llamado was confronted by the trooper who opened fire around 1:17 p.m. The trooper was responding to a report of a road rage incident and found Llamado with a knife, according to a news release.

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Four stabbing victims, all women, were also found at the scene, along with a dog that was also stabbed.

Michelle Adams, 39, died from her injuries. The dog also did not survive. The three other women were all taken to the hospital with serious injuries, according to VSP. 7News is not identifying the surviving victims.

Investigators said the stabbings stemmed from a crash in the southbound lanes of I-495.

The trooper who opened fire was not hurt and is on leave pending the outcome of the investigation into the use of force.

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Investigators said they do not believe the attack is connected to terrorism.



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Two dead after I-495 road rage incident leads to stabbing, Virginia State Police shooting – WTOP News

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Two dead after I-495 road rage incident leads to stabbing, Virginia State Police shooting – WTOP News


A road rage incident led to a shooting involving the Virginia State Police on Sunday on Interstate 495. Four individuals were also stabbed.

Two people are dead Sunday in Annandale, Virginia, after a road rage incident led to a shooting involving Virginia State Police on Interstate 495.

A release issued by the Virginia State Police said a trooper fatally shot a man after responding to a report of a road rage incident on the southbound lanes of I-495 just before 1:30 p.m. at exit 52, near the Little River Turnpike.

The man, transferred to a hospital with serious injuries, has been pronounced dead. VSP said the trooper shot in self-defense after the man confronted him with a knife.

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The trooper did not suffer any injuries during the altercation.

Officials found four stabbing victims at the scene, but only identified a 39-year-old woman and a dog. Both the woman and the dog died.

Early findings suggest the stabbings took place after a crash on the Capital Beltway. The crash remains under investigation.

The VSP’s release comes after the main lanes of the Capital Beltway Outer Loop, before Little River Turnpike, were closed to traffic for several hours, only recently opening the express lanes. Main lanes between Arlington Boulevard and the Little River Turnpike remain closed.

Stay with WTOP for the latest developments.

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Virginia Huffman Obituary February 27, 2026 – Ott & Lee Funeral Homes

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Virginia Huffman Obituary February 27, 2026 – Ott & Lee Funeral Homes


Mary “Virginia” Huffman, 82, of Pelahatchie, Mississippi, passed away on February 27, 2026.

Born on February 28, 1943, in Morton, Mississippi, she was the daughter of Carl and Nannie Mae Bradshaw. She married the love of her life, Jimmy Lavell Huffman, on June 14, 1963, and together they built a life rooted in faith, family, and hard work. Virginia devoted nearly 50 years to teaching high school math, beginning at Morton High School and later serving at East Rankin Academy. Generations of students were shaped by her steady guidance, high expectations, and deep belief in their potential. Many would say they entered college prepared because they had learned from “Mrs. Huffman.” Her students knew the famous “Mrs. Huffman look,” but no one understood it quite like her children and grandchildren. To many, she was more than a teacher—she was a mentor, encourager, and second mother.

A faithful member of Cross Roads Baptist Church, Virginia was a true matriarch and prayer warrior whose life was anchored in her love for the Lord. She woke each morning to study the Word of God and carried that faith into every conversation, classroom, and season of life. She played piano and organ, sang in the choir, and on Sunday mornings could often be found at home practicing the piano before church—something her family dearly loved listening to. She served her church and community with quiet devotion. Whether tutoring students during the summer, helping families in need, or visiting church members, she consistently lived out a servant’s heart.

She loved farm life—raising chickens and cows, cutting hay, tending her flower beds, and cooking for the people she loved. She was especially known for her strawberry pies, egg custard, and caramel cake (see Cheryl Moore for the recipe). She faithfully attended her grandchildren’s sporting events and found her greatest joy in cheering on her family. She loved deeply and wholeheartedly, treating not only her own children and grandchildren as treasures, but embracing many others in her community as if they were her own.

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She is survived by her husband, Jimmy Lavell Huffman; her children, Connie Goodman (Mike), Karen Jones, and Jade Huffman; her grandchildren, Christin (Colby) (Candace), Christopher (Victoria), Dillon, Marley, Halle (Elijah), Kyla Kate, and Eli; her great-grandchildren, Autumn, Titus, Sophia, Liam, Scarlett, Luke, and Ava; and her siblings, Paul (Joyce) and Delilah.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Nannie Mae Bradshaw; her in-laws, Clyde Sr. and Zora Huffman; her son, Scot Huffman; and her sisters, May Erving and Maxine Strong.

Virginia will be remembered as a woman of unwavering faith, steadfast strength, and extraordinary love. Her legacy lives on in the family she nurtured, the students she prepared, and the countless lives she covered in prayer.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 pm – until on Sunday, March 1, 2026 at Cross Roads Baptist Church in Pelahatchie and again on Monday, March 2, 2026 from 12 pm – 1 pm.  

Services will be held at 1pm Monday, March 2, 2026 at Cross Roads Baptist Church with burial in the church cemetery.  

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Bro. John Vaughn, Bro. Gary Morris and Bro. Steven Platt will officate the services.

Pallbearers will be Tim Wolverton, Colby Boyd, Christopher Wilson, Dillon Pettigrew, Eli Huffman and Elijah Moore.

Ott and Lee Funeral Home in Morton is honored to serve the Huffman family.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Cross Roads Baptist Church Building Fund.

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