Game Overview
In a tense collegiate basketball matchup held on February 3, 2026, at Moody Coliseum in Dallas, the North Carolina State Wolfpack faced off against the SMU Mustangs. During the game, NC State’s Tre Holloman, wearing jersey number 5, was seen skillfully maneuvering under pressure from SMU’s B.J. Edwards (#0) as they vied for dominance in the ACC conference.
First Half Highlights
The game narrative revealed that Miami entered the halftime break with a solid lead—but struggled notably at the free-throw line. Players McNeil and Williams, among others, had rough shooting performances, with McNeil missing an opportunity to score from the charity stripe and Williams contributing only 5 points before the break. The rebounding problems for Miami surfaced almost instantly, as they dominated the boards with 11 offensive rebounds, out-rebounding NC State 20 to 13 overall.
Second Half Dynamics
As the second half unfolded, a shift occurred when NC State’s Paul McNeil found his rhythm, helping his team maintain the lead despite a lack of defensive cohesion. The pivotal moment arrived with just over a minute left in the game; Ven-Allen Lubin managed to secure an offensive rebound and score, propelling NC State ahead by 76-69. However, the final minutes would prove disastrous for the Wolfpack. A series of errors—ranging from turnovers to missed free throws—allowed Miami to claw back into the contest.
Climactic Finish
With only three seconds remaining, NC State held onto a slim two-point advantage when a foul sent Miami’s player, Washington, to the line for three free throws. Remarkably, he converted all of them, sealing a 77-76 victory for Miami, a heart-wrenching defeat for NC State who had dominated much of the game.
Statistical Breakdown
Statistically, the Wolfpack showcased a shooting percentage of 57.3% and a solid performance with regards to turnovers at 15.9%. In contrast, Miami had a shooting percentage of 50%, benefiting immensely from their rebounding strength with a total of 20 offensive boards resulting in numerous additional shot attempts.
Individual Performances
Individual performances tallied up; both Ven-Allen Lubin and Matthew Able topped the scoring for NC State with 17 points each, while Lubin also excelled in rebounding with 9 boards and 4 blocks. Quadir Copeland demonstrated his playmaking skills, dishing out 5 assists. The box score shows a match filled with intensity and pivotal moments, emphasizing the razor-thin margins that determine victory in college basketball.
