OGDEN, Utah - This might be the biggest in a series of post-season miracles for the Cardiac Pack: Dereck Whittenburg had an open shot to win the most important game so far, and he passed it up.

As a result, N.C. State is headed to the Final Four for the third time in school history.

Keep in mind, Whittenburg gives up the ball about as often as Wolfpack coach Jim Valvano sits quietly in a corner, avoiding interviews. For the senior shooting guard from Glenarden, Md., the basketball court has always had double yellow lines down the middle and triangular signs on the driver’s side, a hardwood “No Passing” zone that he has faithfully abided.

But, with precious seconds ticking off the clock in the final minute against the third-ranked Cavaliers, the Wolfpack needed one more basket to end All-America center Ralph Sampson’s career and punch their ticket for the NCAA Final Four in Albuquerque, N.M.

Whittenburg was open enough to try the shot that he has dreamed about taking – and always made – a million times before.

Lorenzo Charles, however, was even more open, standing directly underneath the basket, a layup away from the Wolfpack’s second stunning upset of the Cavaliers. The baby-faced sophomore forward, who has played well beyond his years over the last three weeks, caught the bullet pass from Whittenburg and went up immediately for the game-winning layup. He was fouled by Sampson on the play, setting up his second opportunity this month to win a game at the free-throw line.

“Lorenzo had a better shot than I did,” said Whittenburg, explaining why he passed the ball away. “I didn’t want to be taking a shot if I was going to be forcing it, so I hit him.”

This time, Charles sank both shots with 23 seconds to play, putting the Wolfpack on the path to the NCAA semifinals, where it will face the winner of Sunday’s North Carolina-Georgia game. A month ago, Whittenburg would have never given the ball up. For one thing, he wouldn’t have been on the court. He spent most of January and February recovering from the broken foot, suffered against these same Cavaliers, that was supposed to have ended his college career. For another, he never would have had the confidence in Charles, a still-shy sophomore who, until recently, has never been a major offensive option for the Wolfpack.

But in the last three weekends, the maturing Charles has become an inside force. He recorded his first career double-double in the first round of the ACC Tournament and has had double-figures in either scoring or rebounding in six of the Wolfpack’s seven post-season games.

“I was just a little bit nervous,” Charles said. “But I’ve been in that situation before. Really, we’ve been in so many close ball games lately, we don’t even get nervous anymore.”