In a thrilling showdown at the ACC Tournament, the #7 seed NC State Wolfpack showcased their offensive firepower, overcoming #15 seed Pitt with a 98-88 victory. This win propels them into the Quarterfinals, where they'll face the formidable #2 seed Virginia.
NC State's shooting was nothing short of spectacular, hitting a season-high 60.8% from the field. Their long-range game was equally impressive, sinking 56.5% of their three-point attempts with 13 made shots from beyond the arc. This offensive explosion was crucial, as Pitt also had a hot hand, shooting 57.1%, marking the third-best performance by an opponent this season.
Leading the charge for the Wolfpack was Senior Guard Quadir Copeland, who put on a clinic with 24 points. He was efficient, hitting 7 of 10 shots, and filled the stat sheet with 8 assists, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals. Copeland's performance was a key factor in NC State's success.
Senior Forward Ven-Allen Lubin, the team's regular-season scoring leader, added 18 points, continuing his trend of high-percentage shooting by making 5 of 6 attempts. Lubin's consistency has been a cornerstone for the Wolfpack, as he led the ACC in field goal percentage during the regular season.
Sophomore Guard Paul McNeil Jr. contributed 15 points with remarkable efficiency, hitting 4 of 6 shots, including 3 of 5 from three-point range. Meanwhile, Senior Guard Tre Holloman found his rhythm, scoring 14 points and hitting 5 of 8 from the field, with 3 of 5 from deep.
Darrion Williams rebounded from a quiet regular season finale, making 4 of 5 three-point attempts to score all 12 of his points from beyond the arc. Freshman Matt Able also provided a spark off the bench, adding 12 points to the Wolfpack's tally.
NC State excelled in ball control, committing only six turnovers and capitalizing on Pitt's 11 miscues to score 14 points. After a slow start that saw Pitt leading for over 13 minutes, NC State found their groove, maintaining the lead for nearly 25 minutes, including the entire second half.
With this performance, the Wolfpack have set the stage for an exciting matchup against Virginia, bringing momentum and confidence into the next round.