FLORIDA STATE 76, NORTH CAROLINA STATE 62: Bernard James collected 12 points, six rebounds and four blocks as visiting No. 21 Florida State leaned on its defense to hand North Carolina State a second straight crushing loss.

The Seminoles (19-7, 10-2 ACC) ensured they would hold onto their share of first place in the ACC with their third straight win.

The Wolfpack (18-9, 7-5), who blew a 20-point second-half lead in a loss at Duke earlier in the week, are falling to the wrong side of the NCAA Tournament bubble. North Carolina State is now 0-6 against ranked teams this season and has to face No. 7 North Carolina on Tuesday.

Florida State dictated the pace early on Saturday, holding NC State to 20.7 percent shooting in the first half to take a 37-26 lead into the break. Wolfpack stars Lorenzo Brown, Scott Wood and Richard Howell combined to shoot 0 for 16 in the period.

Things did not get much better after the break, as the Seminoles began the second with an 11-5 burst and stretched the lead to as much as 57-37 midway through the half.

C.J. Leslie was the only player to shoot better than 50 percent for NC State, finishing with 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting

GAME NOTEBOOK: Brown, Wood and Howell ended up a combined 4 for 26 from the floor … The Wolfpack committed 18 turnovers … Florida State has won 10 of its last 11 and hosts No. 4 Duke on Thursday.