N.C. State Triumphs Over Pittsburgh in ACC Tournament
In a thrilling second-round clash at the ACC Tournament, N.C. State, the 7th seed, triumphed over 15th-seeded Pittsburgh with a score of 98 to 88. The game, held in Charlotte, N.C., showcased the incredible performances of Quadir Copeland, who led the Wolfpack with 24 points and eight assists. Ven-Allen Lubin also made significant contributions with 18 points, helping N.C. State improve their record to 20-12 and secure a place in the quarterfinals against 10th-ranked Virginia, the tournament’s No. 2 seed.
Game Highlights
The intensity of the match was evident from the start, with N.C. State holding a narrow 51-50 edge at halftime after both teams showcased their offensive skills, shooting over 60% from the floor. N.C. State excelled from beyond the arc, sinking 7 out of 9 three-pointers, while their opponents from Pittsburgh made 9 out of 16.
The second half began with N.C. State launching a commanding 12-2 run, pushing their lead to 63-52 before Pittsburgh managed to score again. Matt Able‘s impressive three-pointer marked the Wolfpack’s 11th successful shot from distance, extending their lead to 76-62.
Late-Game Drama
Drama unfolded late in the game when Lubin was fouled during an alley-oop attempt, leading officials to call a flagrant-1 foul. He converted both free throws to extend the Wolfpack’s lead to 92-83. Paul McNeil Jr. added a layup soon after, further increasing the Wolfpack’s advantage to 11 points.
In addition to Copeland and Lubin, McNeil finished with 15 points, while Tre Holloman contributed 14 points and both Darrion Williams and Able chipped in 12.
Pittsburgh’s Performance
Pittsburgh’s Cameron Corhen put on a personal best, scoring 27 points, and he was supported by Nojus Indrusaitis and Omari Witherspoon, who both tallied 19 points. The Panthers hit their season average for three-pointers early in the game, with Indrusaitis nailing his third shot from long range, helping Pittsburgh establish an early lead at 34-25.
Pittsburgh ended the contest with a solid performance from beyond the three-point line, finishing 12 of 27, while N.C. State concluded with a remarkable 13 of 23.
Looking Ahead
Following this victory, N.C. State will look to turn around their previous outcomes against Virginia, where they suffered two defeats during the regular season, including a heavy 90-61 loss on February 24.
