RALEIGH, N.C. — Before Monday night's game, N.C. State coach Will Wade visited the VCU bench, exchanging lengthy hugs and warm greetings with Rams assistants Brandon Rozzell and Bradford Burgess, who were with Wade on VCU's Final Four team.

Minutes later, an irate Wade began chewing out the referees, turning a shade of red that nearly matched the Wolfpack supporters. Game on.

In an early-season test that could be a preview of things to come in March, Wade's uber-talented Wolfpack got all they could handle from a feisty VCU squad, ultimately pulling away for a 85-79 victory in the game's final minutes.

Rams coach Phil Martelli Jr. leaned on his Philly roots, comparing his team to Rocky.

"They were punching us, punching us. ... We just kept getting up," he said. "They're trying to throw that knockout, and one of the guys in the huddle said, 'there ain't no knockout.'"

To the very end, there wasn't. With VCU down 3 and less than a minute remaining, N.C. State's defense forced a turnover, but VCU's Nyk Lewis stole the ball back, creating an opportunity to tie the game.

But Jadrian Tracy's 3-pointer didn't fall, allowing the Wolfpack a trip to the free-throw line to go up by two scores and salt away the victory in a fun November bout the sport would be wise to schedule more of.

VCU (2-2) has now gone toe-to-toe with two teams likely to be in the NCAA tournament, N.C. State and Utah State, but in both games came up just short.

Despite the school's brand name, talk quickly turned to how the losses would impact the team's chances in March.

Martelli said it was too early to worry about such things, noting that the team's 17-point home win over Saint Peters caused it to drop in some ranking systems.

"I'm not saying there's bias in those numbers, but if we were in the ACC and did that, we probably wouldn't drop, you know," he said. "But again, we have to take advantage of the opportunities that are there, and that's what hurts."

It was an emotionally charged contest from the tip. N.C. State's Darrion Williams was given a technical in the opening minutes for taunting after a 3-point basket, triggering Wade's ire.

VCU was committed to running with the Pack from tip to buzzer, and matched the level of emotion. Lewis cut into N.C. State's lead early in the second half, turning to his bench and encouraging them, with colorful language, to keep the momentum.

Twice at about the 10-minute mark VCU had a chance to take the lead at the free-throw line, but both times the Rams missed and the game remained tied, a remnant of the foul-line issues that plagued them in a loss to Utah State.

Martelli semi-jokingly noted in his postgame that Wade had complained about foul discrepancy after his last game, "and it flipped real quick tonight."

One highlight for the Rams was success on the offensive glass, where they were able to pick up double-digit offensive rebounds.

N.C. State's success was from 3-point range early, but the Wolfpack cooled off in the second half, allowing VCU to stay in the game.

The Rams return home for a Saturday game at the Siegel Center against Coppin State before heading to the Bahamas over Thanksgiving to participate in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament.

Contact Michael Phillips at mphillips@richmonder.org.