N.C. State Wolfpack vs. Pittsburgh Panthers
In a compelling showdown on Saturday, the N.C. State Wolfpack secured an 81-72 victory against the Pittsburgh Panthers. The key figures for the Wolfpack were Quadir Copeland, who delivered an impressive performance with 20 points and nine assists, and Ven-Allen Lubin, who contributed a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Paul McNeil Jr. also made a significant impact, netting 15 points, including five from beyond the arc, as he joined forces with Copeland and Lubin to execute a crucial late-game surge.
Game Highlights
N.C. State’s win marked their fourth triumph in five contests and brought their record to 14-6 overall and 5-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). In contrast, Pittsburgh fell to 8-12 and continues to struggle in the season with just one win in their last six games.
The turning point in the match came with N.C. State trailing by four points. A pivotal 12-0 run was initiated by Lubin, enabling the Wolfpack to regain the lead for the first time since the beginning of the second half. Darrion Williams, who was designated as the ACC’s preseason player of the year, finished the game with a modest seven points but was instrumental in closing out the game after returning from foul trouble.
Pittsburgh’s Performance
The Panthers, who saw Roman Siulepa lead with 15 points and 13 rebounds, also received contributions from Damarco Minor with 13 points and Barry Dunning Jr. with 12 points. Despite their offensive efforts, Pittsburgh struggled with turnovers, giving up 22 points to N.C. State off of their mistakes. N.C. State also excelled at the free-throw line, shooting 22 out of 27, while Pittsburgh managed only 11 from their 25 attempts.
Closing Moments
The game featured intense back-and-forth action, and although Nojus Indrusaitis hit a late three-pointer to narrow N.C. State’s lead, Lubin closed the match with a spectacular alley-oop dunk.
Upcoming Matches
Next up, the Wolfpack will host the Syracuse Orange on Tuesday, while the Panthers will aim to bounce back at home against Wake Forest on the same day.
