Paul McNeil Jr. Catches Fire, Sets NC State Record with 11 Threes in Win Over Texas Southern
Reynolds Coliseum has seen its fair share of electric moments over the years, but on this night, it belonged to Paul McNeil Jr.
The NC State sophomore guard put on an absolute clinic from beyond the arc, rewriting the program’s record book with 11 made three-pointers in a single game - breaking a mark that had stood since 1989. McNeil’s performance wasn’t just a hot hand; it was a full-on flamethrower display, the kind of shooting outburst that leaves fans buzzing and teammates feeding the hot hand at every opportunity.
It all started with a blistering opening stretch. McNeil knocked down his first five threes in the opening five minutes, setting the tone early and sending a clear message: he was locked in. By halftime, he had already hit 7-of-9 from deep, and the Wolfpack were in full control against Texas Southern.
Coming out of the break, McNeil wasted no time adding to the tally. He drilled two more triples early in the second half to tie the school record of nine - a mark previously held by NC State legend Rodney Monroe, set all the way back in 1989. With 15:40 left on the clock, the record was already within reach.
With the Wolfpack up by more than 20, McNeil took a breather, giving other players a chance to get some run. Jerry Deng added a few threes of his own during that stretch, but the crowd was clearly waiting for McNeil’s return.
When he checked back in with 9:20 remaining, the energy shifted. Everyone in the building knew what was coming.
It didn’t happen right away. McNeil missed his next two attempts, but with 3:34 left, he pulled up in transition and buried number ten.
The crowd erupted. The record was his.
But McNeil wasn’t finished.
Just minutes later, he connected again - his 11th three of the night, tying the single-game ACC record and putting an exclamation point on a career night. He finished with 47 points and 11 rebounds, both career highs, and a stat line that will live in Wolfpack lore.
What makes the performance even more remarkable is the context. Coming into the game, McNeil had just 11 total three-pointers over his previous eight games.
He’d gone 0-for-4 from deep against VCU, and his shooting had been inconsistent. But against a Texas Southern defense that ranked 250th nationally in three-point percentage allowed, McNeil found his rhythm - and never let go.
This kind of night doesn’t just boost the box score; it can shift momentum for a team heading into a critical stretch. With a matchup against Ole Miss looming and ACC play on the horizon, NC State suddenly has a red-hot shooter who’s brimming with confidence. If McNeil can carry even a fraction of this shooting touch into conference play, the Wolfpack offense becomes that much more dangerous.
For now, though, McNeil Jr. owns a piece of NC State history - and he did it in style.