NC State defeats Syracuse 24-17

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) Pharoah McKever returned an interception 82 yards for the go-ahead touchdown to spark North Carolina State a 24-17 victory over Syracuse, the Wolfpack's first ACC win in nearly two years and first road win since 2010.

The Orange (3-6, 1-4) had a 14-9 lead and was deep in Wolfpack territory late in the third quarter when McKever intercepted quarterback A.J. Long's pass at the 18 and ran down the right sideline for the game-changing score.

A shovel pass from quarterback Jacoby Brissett to running back Matt Dayes on the PAT gave NC State (5-4, 1-4) a 17-14 lead. An 18-yard touchdown pass from Brissett to Shadrach Thornton with 2:14 to go sealed it.

The win broke a four-game losing streak and gave second-year coach Dave Doeren his first conference win after 12 losses, the longest streak in school history. The Wolfpack's last conference win came Nov. 24, 2012 against Boston College.