The Atlantic Coast Conference basketball season is less than halfway over, but the chase for the top seed in the league's tournament is fast becoming a one-team affair.

Top-ranked Duke (13-0, 5-0) separated itself from the rest of the field a little more last night and didn't even have to take a shot.

North Carolina (13-3, 3-2) fell into a four-way tie with North Carolina State, Georgia Tech and Florida State after the Wolfpack upset the 10th-ranked Tar Heels 99-88 in Raleigh. All four are now two games behind the Blue Devils.

State's Tom Gugliotta had a career-best 36 in the upset of thTar Heels. The 6-foot-10 Gugliotta hit 11 of 17 field goals, grabbed eight rebounds and handed out five assists. Eight of his baskets were three-pointers -- one shy of the school record.

N.C. State shot 64 percent in the pivotal second-half and 55.percent for the game against a team that defends at a 39.9 percent clip. The Wolfpack also outrebounded the much taller Tar Heels 36-32.

"I think when a team plays as well as State they deserve the credit. Don't say it was Carolina's fault," Tar Heel coach Dean Smith said.