Paul McNeil Jr. Drops 47 in Record-Breaking Night as NC State Rolls Past Texas Southern
After a narrow overtime loss to Kansas, NC State came home with something to prove-and sophomore guard Paul McNeil Jr. made sure the message was loud and clear. The Wolfpack stormed past Texas Southern with a commanding 108-72 win on Wednesday night, and McNeil was the engine behind it all.
McNeil didn’t just have a good night-he had the kind of performance that etches your name into the program’s history books. The sophomore exploded for 47 points, knocking down an eye-popping 11-of-17 from beyond the arc.
That’s not just hot shooting-that’s rewriting records. McNeil's 11 triples broke Rodney Monroe’s long-standing NC State record for most threes in a single game, a mark that had stood as a benchmark for decades.
And it wasn’t just the scoring. McNeil pulled down 10 rebounds to complete the double-double, showing he’s more than just a perimeter threat. His shot was falling from everywhere, but he stayed active on the glass and engaged defensively-an all-around dominant effort.
Off the bench, forward Jerry Deng gave the Pack a strong boost with 14 points, continuing to show his value in the rotation. Tre Holloman and Alyn Breed each chipped in nine, while Quadir Copeland added seven points and dished out a game-high nine assists. Copeland’s playmaking helped keep the offense flowing, and his ability to find the hot hand-often McNeil-was key to the team’s rhythm all night.
Defensively, the Wolfpack were locked in. Even without Darrion Williams, NC State forced 13 turnovers, including eight steals, and swatted away seven shots.
That defensive pressure helped them control the tempo and limit Texas Southern to just 21 percent shooting from deep. The Tigers struggled to find any consistent offense, and NC State took full advantage.
This was the kind of bounce-back performance that can reset a team’s trajectory. NC State looked focused, energized, and in sync-especially on the offensive end, where they eclipsed the 100-point mark for the first time this season.
Next up, the Wolfpack will host Ole Miss on Sunday in a matchup that could carry some weight heading into conference play. But before looking ahead, Wednesday night was all about McNeil. A 47-point outburst, a school record shattered, and a statement win to get back on track.
The sophomore guard made it clear: when he’s locked in, he’s one of the most dangerous scorers in college basketball.