WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Snow may have blanketed the Triad on Saturday, but it didn’t cool off NC State’s shooting.
The Wolfpack erupted for 96 points and completed a season sweep of Wake Forest with a 96–78 victory at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum, delivering one of their most complete performances of the season in an ACC showdown.
Paul McNeil Jr. led the charge with a blistering night from beyond the arc, scoring 28 points and knocking down six 3-pointers as NC State seized control early and never let go.
The Wolfpack wasted little time setting the tone, racing to a 23–11 lead within the first 11 minutes. Wake Forest tried to respond behind sophomore Juke Harris, who scored 18 points before halftime, but the Demon Deacons struggled to slow NC State’s offensive rhythm. The Wolfpack entered the break firmly in command, leading 49–31.
Any hopes of a second-half rally were quickly extinguished. Darrion Williams opened the half by drilling a 3-pointer, and NC State continued to stretch the lead with crisp ball movement and consistent perimeter shooting. The Wolfpack’s efficiency from long range proved decisive as they repeatedly answered Wake Forest’s attempts to climb back into the game.
NC State’s depth also played a major role. Williams finished with 20 points, Ven-Allen Lubin added 12 points in the paint, and Tre Holloman chipped in 11 points while shooting 3-for-6 from 3-point range. Quadir Copeland orchestrated the offense with 10 assists and steady leadership, even as brief foul trouble temporarily slowed the Wolfpack’s momentum.
The victory marked NC State’s ninth win in its last 11 games and capped a season sweep of Wake Forest. The Wolfpack improved to 7–2 in ACC play, their strongest conference start in two decades, and continued to build momentum as February approaches.
NC State will look to keep that momentum rolling next week when it travels to Dallas to face SMU, which enters the matchup with a 15–6 record. If Saturday’s performance was any indication, the Wolfpack are heating up at exactly the right time.
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