NC State Wolfpack Triumph Over Virginia Tech Hokies
In a thrilling showdown in Raleigh, the NC State Wolfpack secured an 82-73 victory over the Virginia Tech Hokies on Saturday, thanks to the standout performances of Quadir Copeland and Paul McNeil Jr.. Both players contributed significantly, scoring 21 points apiece, while Copeland also delivered an impressive 10 assists, marking his second consecutive double-double.
Player Highlights
Notably, this was Copeland’s fourth game this season with double-digit assists, a remarkable feat considering he had no such games prior to this week. His previous performance showcased his prowess, where he secured 16 assists alongside 10 rebounds against SMU.
In terms of shooting accuracy, Copeland excelled, making 7 of 11 attempts from the field and successfully hitting 7 of 10 free throws; this game also celebrated his milestone of surpassing 1,000 career points early in the second half. Meanwhile, McNeil demonstrated his skills from beyond the arc, achieving 4 of 7 from three-point range and securing 7 of 8 from the free-throw line.
Tre Holloman also provided crucial support with 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting, including three three-pointers, and contributing to the team effort, Ven-Allen Lubin collected 11 points along with seven rebounds.
Game Summary
The Wolfpack established a solid lead at halftime, going into the break at 36-24, spurred on by an impressive 11-0 scoring run late in the first half. Despite the Hokies’ efforts to mount a comeback with a 12-2 run in the second half that narrowed the gap to just three points with 11:20 remaining, NC State responded vigorously with a 10-1 run that kept the Hokies at bay for the remainder of the game.
Virginia Tech’s Amani Hansberry led his team with 19 points and added seven rebounds and three steals. Tobi Lawal made a significant impact as well, scoring 17 points while grabbing 15 rebounds, and Neoklis Avdalas contributed 14 points.
Looking Ahead
Moving forward, Virginia Tech will continue their road trip facing No. 20 Clemson on Wednesday, while NC State is set to challenge No. 24 Louisville in their next matchup on Monday. This win puts the Wolfpack at a strong 18-6 overall and 9-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, whereas the Hokies now sit at 16-8 and 5-6 in the same conference.
