Here is the latest ACC sports news from The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Brandon Johns Jr. scored 18 points, Zeb Jackson added a career-high 16 points and VCU edged Pittsburgh 71-67 in the consolation game of the Legends Classic. In a streaky second half, VCU had the final run, retaking the lead when Johns scored five straight points and the Rams outscored the Panthers 15-7 over the final two minutes. Blake Hinson led the Panthers (1-3) with 19 points, Jamarius Burton added 14, Nelly Cummings 11 and Jorge Diaz Graham 10.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Sean Pedulla scored 18 points with seven assists and Virginia Tech held off Old Dominion 75-71 in the first round of the Charleston Classic. The Hokies will play Penn State in Friday’s semifinals while the Monarchs will face Furman. Grant Basile scored 15 points, Darius Maddox added 12 and Justyn Mutts had 11 along with nine rebounds. Chaunce Jenkins scored 16 of his career-high 24 points in a second-half rally for Old Dominion. Mekhi Long added 10 points and 11 rebounds.

UNDATED (AP) — Surprising Duke and Pittsburgh will be playing for improved bowl positioning when they meet Saturday. The Blue Devils are tied with No. 20 Florida State and North Carolina State for third in the ACC with seven victories. They’ll have to find a new formula against the Panthers, who have won 10 of the last 11 meetings. A busy weekend also has Syracuse and Wake Forest meeting in a matchup of teams that are reeling, Boston College playing at No. 18 Notre Dame and Virginia Tech at Liberty.

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Miami first-year coach Mario Cristobal knows that No. 9 Clemson is the ACC program he’s got to chase down. Cristobal say the Tigers have a culture of success that’s put them on top of the conference. Clemson is seeking its fourth undefeated ACC regular season since 2015. The Tigers have also won 39 in a row at home, a streak that began in November 2016. Miami has had its struggles in Cristobal’s debut season. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said the Hurricanes have the pieces in place to get back toward the top. The two teams play Saturday.

ATLANTA (AP) — Javon Franklin had 14 points and 11 rebounds, Deivon Smith added 11 points, nine rebounds, six assists and three blocks and Georgia Tech beat Northern Illinois 68-50. Georgia Tech has started a season with three straight wins for the first time since the 2015-16 season. Georgia Tech scored the opening seven points of the game and never trailed, leading 43-20 at halftime. Northern Illinois started the second half on a 17-1 run to get within 44-37 but Franklin started a 9-0 run that put Georgia Tech ahead by double figures the rest of the way. Miles Kelly scored 13 points and Dallan Coleman added 12 for Georgia Tech, which plays Utah on Monday. The Yellow Jackets shot just 39% from the field but held NIU to 27%.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Coach Mike Norvell has been building a culture of embracing hard work at Florida State, and the No. 19 Seminoles are delivering the kind of progress he envisioned. Florida State won three games in 2020, his first year, and five in 2021. After a three-game midseason skid this year, the Seminoles have won three straight, including a 42-point rout of rival Miami and a 38-3 beatdown of Syracuse last Saturday night to finish Atlantic Coast Conference play at 5-3. It’s the most league wins for the program since 2016. The Seminoles will chase their eighth win of the season on Saturday against Louisiana.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — No. 18 Notre Dame has won 27 straight regular-season games against the ACC. On Saturday, the Fighting Irish can extend that streak Saturday when they host Boston College. The Eagles are coming off of snapping a streak of their own — finally beating a ranked opponent after 25 tries. The Eagles have the worst rushing offense in the Bowl Subdivision and their starting quarterback has been injured.

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Coach Mack Brown had been clear he didn’t want to talk about various scenarios for his North Carolina team to clinch its Atlantic Coast Conference division title, only winning. The 13th-ranked Tar Heels have done that and secured a spot in the league championship game. It sets up a new challenge entering Saturday’s home game against Georgia Tech: Focus on the task at hand with so much ahead. The Tar Heels (9-1, 6-0 ACC) clinched the division race with last weekend’s win at Wake Forest, capping the first 6-0 season road record in program history. Now they’re back home for the final two games, the first coming against the Yellow Jackets (4-6, 3-4) before hosting the Wolfpack as they try to reach 10 wins for the first time since 2015.