Raleigh, NC (SportsNetwork.com) - Marcus Paige scored 23 points and No. 15 North Carolina escaped Duke's fate by beating North Carolina State 81-79 on Wednesday night.

Paige made all five of his 3-pointers, the last one giving the Tar Heels a 71-60 lead with 4 1/2 minutes left, but they had to hang on down the stretch.

The Wolfpack trimmed the deficit to one point and nearly tied the score at the buzzer after Abdul-Malik Abu missed a foul shot high off the rim on purpose, but Cody Martin's tip-in attempt didn't fall.

Kennedy Meeks added 15 points and 10 rebounds and Isaiah Hicks scored 12 for the Tar Heels (13-4, 3-1 ACC), who played their third consecutive close game.

They rallied from 13 down in the second half for a 72-71 win over then-No. 5 Louisville in Chapel Hill on Saturday, which followed a one-point loss to nationally ranked Notre Dame earlier in the week.

Ralston Turner had 20 points to lead NC State (12-6, 3-2) and Trevor Lacey scored 19 in the Wolfpack's third consecutive game against a ranked opponent.

They upset then-No. 2 Duke 87-75 on Sunday after losing to current No. 2 Virginia last Wednesday.