CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (Interstat) — A surging Virginia team riding a 10-game winning streak will host an inconsistent but dangerous North Carolina State squad in a key Atlantic Coast Conference men’s basketball clash Tuesday night at John Paul Jones Arena. The Cavaliers (24-3, 14-2 ACC) have established themselves as a national contender, with their last loss coming Jan. 24 against North Carolina. Their defense, allowing just 60.2 points per game, ranks among the nation’s best. They will be tested by a Wolfpack offense that averages 82.5 points. Virginia’s success has been fueled by balanced play, with guard Chance Mallory serving as a catalyst. Over the last seven games, Mallory has averaged 10.3 points and 4.4 assists, including a 12-point, six-rebound, six-assist performance in Saturday’s 86-83 win over Miami. The visiting Wolfpack (19-8, 10-6) are looking to build momentum after a dominant 82-58 victory over rival North Carolina last Tuesday, which snapped a two-game skid. Their season has been marked by dramatic swings, including a 118-77 loss at Louisville followed by a resilient 84-83 road win at SMU. NC State’s fortunes often follow the play of dynamic guard Quadir Copeland. In his last seven outings, Copeland has averaged 13.6 points and 8.4 assists, recording double-digit assists three times. He scored 20 points with seven assists in the win over the Tar Heels. Virginia won the season’s first meeting decisively, 76-61, in Raleigh on Jan. 3, holding the Wolfpack to 34.4% shooting. Replicating that defensive effort will be paramount against a potent NC State attack. The game is a critical late-season conference test for both. Virginia aims to solidify its hold on first place in the ACC, while NC State seeks a résumé-boosting road win to enhance its NCAA tournament positioning. Following this matchup, Virginia visits Duke on Saturday, while NC State travels to Notre Dame.